Researchers from the School of Psychology, University of Sussex in Falmer, UK, explored in this feasibility study whether a brief, online, mindfulness-based intervention could increase mindfulness and reduce perceived stress and anxiety/depression symptoms within a student population.
 
One hundred and four students were randomly assigned to either immediately start a two-week, self- guided online, mindfulness-based intervention or to a wait-list control.

Measures of mindfulness, perceived stress and anxiety/depression were taken, before and after the intervention period.

Intention to treat analysis identified significant group by time interactions for mindfulness skills, perceived stress and anxiety/depression symptoms.
 
Participation in the intervention was associated with significant improvements in all measured domains, where no significant changes on these measures were found for the control group.

The investigators conclude that this study offers evidence in support of the feasibility and effectiveness of shorter, self-guided, mindfulness-based interventions.

Citation:  Cavanagh K, Strauss C, Cicconi F, Griffiths N, Wyper A, Jones F. A randomised controlled trial of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2013 Sep; 51 (9): pages 573-8. [email protected]