Daily change patterns in mindfulness and psychological health: A pilot intervention

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology 2021-03, Vol.77 (3), p.496-515
• Main Authors: Kim, Shin Ye, Suh, Hanna, Oh, Wonjung, Daheim, Jacob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: College students; first‐year college students; Happiness; Mental depression; Mindfulness; online‐based intervention; self‐determination theory; Stress; stress management
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23043

Objective This study examined the differences in first‐year college students' daily change trajectories in subjective happiness, depression, anxiety, stress, and state mindfulness. Method A 5‐day, online mindfulness‐based intervention (MI) condition and stress management (SM) condition were employed in 247 first‐year college students. Results Students in both the MI and SM conditions displayed similar significant linear declines in anxiety and stress, but there were significant differences between the two conditions, including: (1) the MI condition showing a significant linear increase in subjective happiness compared with no change in the SM condition and (2) the SM condition showed a significant linear decrease in depression compared to no significant change in the MI condition. Conclusion Brief online interventions—whether MI or SM—can promote better mental health and reduce psychological distress. The results also lend support for MI's differential influence on first‐year college students' happiness and SM's differential influence on their depression.