Mindfulness and Psychological Inflexibility

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aimed to examine whether mindfulness skills training can help to reduce experiential avoidance and anxiety level. This study investigated whether the training delivery methods (audio-guided mindfulness exercise or virtual reality-based mindfulness exercise) differ in terms of changing general experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms.

Detailed Description
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The experimental design (randomized trial) was used in this study. Data were collected through convenience sampling. After obtaining ethical approval fromEthics Committee of the Bahçeşehir Cyprus University, participants were invited to participate in the study via advertisements posted in the university building. Recruited participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group or control group. All participants will be provided with an informed consent form which provided information about participant's right and data management. Participants in the experimental group completed mindfulness exercise on Virtual Reality (VR) system where they listened to an audio track (guide for the exercise) and saw calming nature scenes (e.g., views on the beach) whereas those in the control group completed mindfulness exercise by listening to the (same) audio track only. Each mindfulness session took approximately 15 mins. In total, four sessions were completed in two weeks (2 sessions per week). After obtaining informed consent, the participants completed a survey pack that included valid and reliable measurement scales (mindfulness skills [The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale - Revised], experiential avoidance [Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II], and anxiety symptoms [Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale]) at two-time points (i.e., pre-test [before intervention], and post-test [after 4 sessions/when sessions were completed], At the end of the study, the participants were provided with a debrief form.

Official Title
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Mindfulness Skills Training and Psychological Inflexibility: a Randomized Trial

Conditions
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Mindfulness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Mindfulness skills training to reduce experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age of 18 and above, ability to read, and/or understand English Exclusion Criteria: Participants who regularly practice mindfulness exercise were excluded form the analyses

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Audio-guided mindfulness skills training<br>Participants in this group listened to a 15 mins audio track to practice mindfulness exercises | Behavioral: Mindfulness skills training to reduce experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms<br>* The intervention aimed to increase participants' mindfulness skills which may be critical in decreasing general experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms<br>|
| Experimental: Virtual reality (VR) -based mindfulness skills training<br>Participants in this group completed mindfulness exercises on the VR system. The system included the same 15 mins audio track and additionally a video that displayed a 360° spherical landscape view of the sea in the afternoon | Behavioral: Mindfulness skills training to reduce experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms<br>* The intervention aimed to increase participants' mindfulness skills which may be critical in decreasing general experiential avoidance and anxiety symptoms<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in experiential avoidance | Experiential avoidance is an example of psychological inflexibility. Experiential avoidance was measured via Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II. The scale includes 7 items that are rated on a seven-point scale (1 = never true - 7 = always true). The minimum and maximum scores on the scale range between 7 and 49 points. Higher scores on the scale indicate greater experiential avoidance (psychological inflexibility) | at two time points (pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in anxiety | Anxiety symptoms were measured via Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. The scale includes 7 items rated on 4 point scale (0 = Not at all, 1 = Several days, 2 = More than half of the days - 3 = Nearly every day). Scores 5, 10, 15 obtained from the test indicate mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively. | at two time points (pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention) |