Effects and mechanisms of an online short-term audio-based mindfulness program on negative emotions in a community setting: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

This study aims to test the effectiveness of a short-term online audio-based mindfulness programme for reducing signs of negative emotions in community-dwelling people. 

Methods

Community-dwelling adults will be recruited via online social networking sites (e.g., QQ, WeChat and Weibo). Participants (n = 260) will be randomized into a mindfulness group (n = 130) and a waitlist control group (n = 130). In the mindfulness group, participants will be advised to spend 10–20 min listening to the audio content, including mindful-form practices (e.g., eating, sitting, walking or breathing) then practice daily mindfulness exercises for 3 weeks (a total of 21 sessions), whereas those in the control group will receive the same intervention after data collection in the mindfulness group. Participants will fill in the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) five times: at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks. 

Results

The primary hypothesis is that negative emotion indices of community-dwelling people will be reduced after intervention. Individual differences and weekly change of indices during the intervention period will be explored. The study will test the potential mediation and moderation effect of anxiety through intervention effects on negative affect. Secondary outcome measures include levels of mindfulness, current mental wellbeing and positive affect. 

Conclusion

The final results may support that the mindfulness programme may be good for community-dwelling people.