Mindfully well
Scarabusci, R. & Moneta, G. B. (in press). Mindfully well: A pilot study on the effects of mindfulness exercises on affect and metacognition for self-defined financially anxious individuals. Journal of Psychological Research.
Abstract
Mindfulness has gained increasing attention in research within the last decades due to its benefits to well-being. This study explores the effects of a short four-week mindfulness intervention on affect and metacognition using a sample of self-identifying financially anxious individuals. Thirty-one participants took part in the study, mostly employed (87.1%), student (74.2%), white (54.8%) women (71%) with the mean age of 28.71. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n=15) who engaged in mindfulness exercises from MBCT audio-files, or to a wait-list control group (n=16). Measures were taken at baseline and after four weeks for both groups. Results of repeated-measures MANOVA showed statistically significant time and group interaction effects on affect, and repeated-measures ANOVA results showed significant improvement in time and group interaction effects on negative affect. A possible moderating effect of financial anxiety on mindfulness and the adaptive metacognition factor “confidence in extinguishing perseverative thoughts and emotions” was found with stronger effects for individuals with lower financial anxiety. Findings support mindfulness intervention as a viable intervention to significantly decrease negative affect. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness affecting adaptive metacognition and longer studies should explore further the effects on positive affect.