Momentary Mindfulness and Everyday Emotion 2020

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Citation article

Title:
Impact of a Momentary Mindfulness Intervention on Rumination, Negative Affect, and their Dynamics in Daily Life
Authors:
Bolzenkötter, T., Neubauer A. B., Koval, P.
Year of publication:
2025
Publication name:
Affective Science
Volume number:
6
Issue number:
-
Page numbers:
259-271
DOI or URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-024-00291-9
Publication type:
Refereed Journal Article

Study details

Baseline session:
Yes
Followup session:
No
Study design:
First, participants completed an online baseline survey two days prior to the ESM phase. The baseline comprised demographic questions, reports of meditation experience, meditation practice frequency and several validated self-report questionnaires. The day before the ESM phase, participants installed the SEMA3 app which was used to send the ESM surveys to participants. On this day participants also watched videos with instructions on how to use the app, and explanations of the content of the ESM surveys. The following day the ESM phase commenced where participants received 8 ESM surveys each day for 10 days. ESM surveys were sent via a stratified random-interval scheme. Participants received one survey approximately every 90 minutes. At each ESM survey, participants were randomly assigned to the mindfulness or active control task. Either intervention or control instructions were presented to participants asking them to listen to a 3-minute audio task hosted on soundcloud.com, after which participants were instructed to return to the ESM questionnaire. They then completed 15 ESM items. The same set of items were asked, regardless of whether the participants was assigned to the control or intervention task for each survey. The probability of receiving either task varied between-persons, however this was also randomly assigned. Therefore, while all participants received either the mindfulness or active control task throughout the study, the proportion of interventions delivered differed between participants.
ESM measurement waves:
1
Ethics granting body:
The University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics protocol number:
2056669.2
Year/s data was collected:
2020
Location of participants (Countries):
Australia
Background information:
A technical error occurred on Day 1 of the ESM phase for the first batch of participants, making these data unusable. Therefore, data from Day 1 of Batch 1 was removed from the dataset. Data from Batch 1 begins from Day 2 onwards.
Languages:
English
Setting:
---
Collection platform:
---
Preregistration URL:
https://osf.io/y3gnt/
Days of ESM data collection:
10
Number of ESM measures per day:
8
Sampling schedule:
signal-contingent
ESM schedule start time:
9:00
ESM schedule end time:
20:40
ESM schedule duration:
---

Sample details

Type of sample:
Participants were Prolific participants, whose mean age was 29.2 years (SD = 8.99) and of whom 51.6% were female (46.2% male, 2.2% other).
Recruitment information:
Participants were recruited via the online research platform Prolific. To be eligible, participants were required to (1) be aged at least 18 years; (2) be fluent in English; (3) have a smartphone running Android or iOS; (4) have normal or corrected-to-normal vision; (5) have no hearing loss/difficulties; and (6) have no untreated mental health conditions impacting their daily functioning.
Incentives:
Participants received £6.5 for completing the pre-ESM baseline questionnaires and an additional £4 for watching the ESM introduction video and successfully signing into the ESM app (SEMA3). During the 10-day ESM portion of the study, participants received three payments of £5 for their ongoing participation in the study on days 2, 4 and 7. At the end of the study, participants received £5 for completing the post-ESM follow-up questionnaires and a further £15 bonus if they had an overall ESM compliance rate of 75% or higher.
Exclusions:
After initially recruiting 146 participants, 28 participants did not commence the ESM phase (due to technical reasons or voluntarily withdrawal). Additionally, 21 participants whose compliance with the ESM protocol or the intervention was low were excluded during data collection . Six more participants were excluded with low intervention compliance who had not been previously excluded during data collection. 376 individual survey items were also removed that were completed in less than 750ms, indicating careless responding.
Number of participants:
91

Contact info

Contact:
Peter Koval
Contact email:
p.koval@unimelb.edu.au
Selection Variable Info Assessment type Constructs Branching
UUID Default None —
Date_Local Default None —
Time_Local Default None —
AGE How old are you in years? Baseline —
ANG Right now, how angry do you feel? ESM —
ANX Right now, how anxious do you feel? ESM —
AUDIO_EASY I found that the background sound audio tasks were easy to complete. Follow_up —
BATCH Number of batch the participant belongs to Global —
BFI_1 I am someone who tends to be quiet Baseline —
BFI_10 I am someone who feels secure, comfortable with myself Baseline —
BFI_11 I am someone who is less active than other people Baseline —
BFI_12 I am someone who is temperamental, gets emotional easily Baseline —
BFI_2 I am someone who worries a lot Baseline —
BFI_3 I am someone who is dominant, acts as a leader Baseline —
BFI_4 I am someone who who tends to feel depressed, blue Baseline —
BFI_5 I am someone who is full of energy Baseline —
BFI_6 I am someone who who is emotionally stable, not easily upset Baseline —
BFI_7 I am someone who is outgoing, sociable Baseline —
BFI_8 I am someone who is relaxed, handles stress well Baseline —
BFI_9 I am someone who prefers others take charge Baseline —
CALM Right now, how calm do you feel? ESM —
CHEER Right now, how cheerful do you feel? ESM —
COMPLETED_DATE_TIME Date and time ESM survey was completed. ESM —
CONTRL_RT reaction time to the control task in miliseconds ESM —
COVID_AFFEC How much have you been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? Baseline —
CREATED_DATE_TIME Date and time ESM survey created ESM —
DASS_1 I found it hard to wind down. Baseline —
DASS_10 I felt that I had nothing to look forward to Baseline —
DASS_11 I found myself getting agitated Baseline —
DASS_12 I found it difficult to relax Baseline —
DASS_13 I felt down-hearted and blue Baseline —
DASS_14 I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing Baseline —
DASS_15 I felt I was close to panic Baseline —
DASS_16 I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything Baseline —
DASS_17 I felt I wasn’t worth much as a person Baseline —
DASS_18 I felt that I was rather touchy Baseline —
DASS_19 I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (e.g. sense of heart rate increase, heart missing a beat) Baseline —
DASS_2 I was aware of dryness of my mouth Baseline —
DASS_20 I felt scared without any good reason Baseline —
DASS_21 I felt that life was meaningless Baseline —
DASS21_1 I found it hard to wind down. Follow_up —
DASS21_10 I felt that I had nothing to look forward to Follow_up —
DASS21_11 I found myself getting agitated Follow_up —
DASS21_12 I found it difficult to relax Follow_up —
DASS21_13 I felt down-hearted and blue Follow_up —
DASS21_14 I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing Follow_up —
DASS21_15 I felt I was close to panic Follow_up —
DASS21_16 I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything Follow_up —
DASS21_17 I felt I wasn’t worth much as a person Follow_up —
DASS21_18 I felt that I was rather touchy Follow_up —
DASS21_19 I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (e.g. sense of heart rate increase, heart missing a beat) Follow_up —
DASS21_2 I was aware of dryness of my mouth Follow_up —
DASS21_20 I felt scared without any good reason Follow_up —
DASS21_21 I felt that life was meaningless Follow_up —
DASS21_3 I couldn’t seem to experience any positive feeling at all Follow_up —
DASS21_4 I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g. excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion) Follow_up —
DASS21_5 I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things Follow_up —
DASS21_6 I tended to over-react to situations Follow_up —
DASS21_7 I experienced trembling (e.g. in the hands) Follow_up —
DASS21_8 I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy Follow_up —
DASS21_9 I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself Follow_up —
DASS_3 I couldn’t seem to experience any positive feeling at all Baseline —
DASS_4 I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g. excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion) Baseline —
DASS_5 I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things Baseline —
DASS_6 I tended to over-react to situations Baseline —
DASS_7 I experienced trembling (e.g. in the hands) Baseline —
DASS_8 I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy Baseline —
DASS_9 I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself Baseline —
DEPR Right now, how depressed do you feel? ESM —
DURATION_TOTAL Time taken to complete baseline Baseline —
DURATION_TOTAL Time taken to complete follow up Follow_up —
EDU What is the highest level of education you have completed? Baseline —
EMPLOY_FULLTIME What is your current employment status (select all that apply)? Full time Baseline —
EMPLOY_NOTEMPLOYED What is your current employment status (select all that apply)? Not employed Baseline —
EMPLOY_PARTTIME What is your current employment status (select all that apply)? Part time Baseline —
EMPLOY_RETIRED What is your current employment status (select all that apply)? Retired Baseline —
EMPLOY_STUDENT What is your current employment status (select all that apply)? Student Baseline —
END_DATE_TIME Date and time baseline completed Baseline —
END_DATE_TIME Follow up end date and time Follow_up —
ESL Is English your first language? Baseline —
ESM_EASY I found that the daily ESM surveys were easy to complete. Follow_up —
ETHN How do you describe your ethnicity? Baseline —
EXCITE Right now, how excited do you feel? ESM —
EXP_MEDITATION Do you have any previous experience with meditation (e.g. Mindfulness, Zen, Vipashyana,meditative comtemplation, mind training etc.)? Baseline —
FFMQ_1 While walking, I am aware of the sensations in my body. Baseline —
FFMQ_1 While walking, I am aware of the sensations in my body. Follow_up —
FFMQ_10 I correct myself when I think the way I shouldn’t. Baseline —
FFMQ_10 I correct myself when I think the way I shouldn’t. Follow_up —
FFMQ_11 I can feel how eating and drinking affect my body and mind. Baseline —
FFMQ_11 I can feel how eating and drinking affect my body and mind. Follow_up —
FFMQ_12 I find it hard to express what I feel. Baseline —
FFMQ_12 I find it hard to express what I feel. Follow_up —
FFMQ_13 I am easily distracted. Baseline —
FFMQ_13 I am easily distracted. Follow_up —
FFMQ_14 I am aware that some of my thoughts are not normal, and I know that I shouldn’t feel that way. Baseline —
FFMQ_14 I am aware that some of my thoughts are not normal, and I know that I shouldn’t feel that way. Follow_up —
FFMQ_15 I can feel pure sensations like the wind or the sunlight touching my skin. Baseline —
FFMQ_15 I can feel pure sensations like the wind or the sunlight touching my skin. Follow_up —
FFMQ_16 Sometimes I cannot find words to express what I feel. Baseline —
FFMQ_16 Sometimes I cannot find words to express what I feel. Follow_up —
FFMQ_17 I judge my thoughts as good or bad. Baseline —
FFMQ_17 I judge my thoughts as good or bad. Follow_up —
FFMQ_18 I find it difficult to sustain focus. Baseline —
FFMQ_18 I find it difficult to sustain focus. Follow_up —
FFMQ_19 I step back when I catch myself thinking something negative or distressing. Baseline —
FFMQ_19 I step back when I catch myself thinking something negative or distressing. Follow_up —
FFMQ_2 I can describe my feelings well. Baseline —
FFMQ_2 I can describe my feelings well. Follow_up —
FFMQ_20 I can pay attention to the clock ticking, birds chirping, and cars passing. Baseline —
FFMQ_20 I can pay attention to the clock ticking, birds chirping, and cars passing. Follow_up —
FFMQ_21 I think before reacting under stressful situations. Baseline —
FFMQ_21 I think before reacting under stressful situations. Follow_up —
FFMQ_22 I find it difficult to describe my bodily sensations in words Baseline —
FFMQ_22 I find it difficult to describe my bodily sensations in words Follow_up —
FFMQ_23 I sometimes feel that I am not in complete awareness of myself. Baseline —
FFMQ_23 I sometimes feel that I am not in complete awareness of myself. Follow_up —
FFMQ_24 I can calm down soon after experiencing distressing thoughts and impulses. Baseline —
FFMQ_24 I can calm down soon after experiencing distressing thoughts and impulses. Follow_up —
FFMQ_3 I criticize myself for having irrational emotions and thoughts. Baseline —
FFMQ_3 I criticize myself for having irrational emotions and thoughts. Follow_up —
FFMQ_4 I can perceive emotions without reacting to them. Baseline —
FFMQ_4 I can perceive emotions without reacting to them. Follow_up —
FFMQ_5 When I do things, my mind wanders off and I’m easily distracted. Baseline —
FFMQ_5 When I do things, my mind wanders off and I’m easily distracted. Follow_up —
FFMQ_6 I am aware of the bodily sensations when I take a bath Baseline —
FFMQ_6 I am aware of the bodily sensations when I take a bath Follow_up —
FFMQ_7 I can easily talk about my thoughts and opinions. Baseline —
FFMQ_7 I can easily talk about my thoughts and opinions. Follow_up —
FFMQ_8 I don’t pay attention to my work as I am busy daydreaming most of the time. Baseline —
FFMQ_8 I don’t pay attention to my work as I am busy daydreaming most of the time. Follow_up —
FFMQ_9 I can watch my feelings without getting attached to them. Baseline —
FFMQ_9 I can watch my feelings without getting attached to them. Follow_up —
GENDER What is your gender? Baseline —
HAP Right now, how happy do you feel? ESM —
INTERVEN_RT reaction time to the mindfulness intervention in miliseconds ESM —
INTERVENTION_OR_CTRL Whether the mindfulness intervention or control task was completed at this survey ESM —
MINDFULNESS_HELPFUL I found that the mindfulness exercises were helpful. Follow_up —
MOMENT_MINDFUL1 Over the last minutes, were you curious about each thought/feeling that you had? ESM —
MOMENT_MINDFUL1_RT reaction time to the item MOMENT_MINDFUL1 (used for checking compliance for the audio task) ESM —
MOMENT_MINDFUL2 Over the last minutes, did you try to accept each thought/feeling you had, whether it was pleasant or unpleasant? ESM —
MOMENT_MINDFUL2_RT reaction time to the item MOMENT_MINDFUL2 used for checking compliance for the audio task) ESM —
NEGEV_INTENSITY Think about the most negative event that has occurred since the last survey, how intense was it? ESM —
OCCASION_PROB randomized probability of this specific survey to deliver the mindfulness intervention vs. the control task. ESM —
PANAS_1 Interested Baseline —
PANAS_10 Proud Baseline —
PANAS_11 Irritable Baseline —
PANAS_12 Alert Baseline —
PANAS_13 Ashamed Baseline —
PANAS_14 Inspired Baseline —
PANAS_15 Nervous Baseline —
PANAS_16 Determined Baseline —
PANAS_17 Attentive Baseline —
PANAS_18 Jittery Baseline —
PANAS_19 Active Baseline —
PANAS_2 Distressed Baseline —
PANAS_20 Afraid Baseline —
PANAS_3 Excited Baseline —
PANAS_4 Upset Baseline —
PANAS_5 Strong Baseline —
PANAS_6 Guilty Baseline —
PANAS_7 Scared Baseline —
PANAS_8 Hostile Baseline —
PANAS_9 Enthusiastic Baseline —
POSEV_INTENSITY Think about the most positive event that has occurred since the last survey, how intense was it? ESM —
PRAC_MEDITATION Are you currently practicing mindfulness meditation, if yes, how frequent is it? Baseline —
PROB_ID randomized probability of receiving the mindfulness intervention vs. the control task for this participant. ESM —
RAND_PROB Final randomized probability of delivering the mindfulness (vs. active control) intervention. ESM —
RELAT What is your relationship status? Baseline —
RLX Right now, how relaxed do you feel? ESM —
RRS_1 Think "What am I doing to deserve this?" Baseline —
RRS_1 Think "What am I doing to deserve this?" Follow_up —
RRS_10 Go someplace alone to think about your feelings Baseline —
RRS_10 Go someplace alone to think about your feelings Follow_up —
RRS_2 Analyse recent events to try to understand why you are depressed Baseline —
RRS_2 Analyse recent events to try to understand why you are depressed Follow_up —
RRS_3 Think "Why do I always react this way?" Baseline —
RRS_3 Think "Why do I always react this way?" Follow_up —
RRS_4 Go away by yourself and think about why you feel this way Baseline —
RRS_4 Go away by yourself and think about why you feel this way Follow_up —
RRS_5 Write down what you are thinking and analyse it Baseline —
RRS_5 Write down what you are thinking and analyse it Follow_up —
RRS_6 Think about a recent situation, wishing it had gone better Baseline —
RRS_6 Think about a recent situation, wishing it had gone better Follow_up —
RRS_7 Think "Why do I have problems other people don't have?" Baseline —
RRS_7 Think "Why do I have problems other people don't have?" Follow_up —
RRS_8 Think "Why can't I handle things better?" Baseline —
RRS_8 Think "Why can't I handle things better?" Follow_up —
RRS_9 Analyse your personality to try to understand why you are depressed Baseline —
RRS_9 Analyse your personality to try to understand why you are depressed Follow_up —
RSE_1 On the whole, I am satisfied with myself. Baseline —
RSE_10 I take a positive attitude toward myself. Baseline —
RSE_2 At times, I think I am no good at all. Baseline —
RSE_3 I feel that I have a number of good qualities. Baseline —
RSE_4 I am able to do things as well as most other people. Baseline —
RSE_5 I feel I do not have much to be proud of. Baseline —
RSE_6 I certainly feel useless at times. Baseline —
RSE_7 I feel that I’m a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others. Baseline —
RSE_8 I wish I could have more respect for myself. Baseline —
RSE_9 All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure. Baseline —
RUM Over the last minutes, did you find yourself getting stuck on your feelings and problems? ESM —
RUM_RT reaction time to the item RUM (used for checking compliance for the audio task) ESM —
SAD Right now, how sad do you feel? ESM —
SCHEDULED_DATE_TIME Date and time ESM survey scheduled ESM —
START_DATE_TIME Follow up start date and time Follow_up —
STARTED_DATE_TIME Date and time baseline started Baseline —
STARTED_DATE_TIME Date and time ESM survey started ESM —
STR Right now, how stressed do you feel? ESM —
SURVEY_DAY ESM phase day ESM —
SURVEY_NUMBER Sequential number of survey for entire ESM phase ESM —
SURVEY_NUMBER_EACHDAY Number of survey within the given day ESM —
SWLS_1 In most ways my life is close to my ideal. Baseline —
SWLS_1 In most ways my life is close to my ideal. Follow_up —
SWLS_2 The conditions of my life are excellent Baseline —
SWLS_2 The conditions of my life are excellent Follow_up —
SWLS_3 I am satisfied with my life. Baseline —
SWLS_3 I am satisfied with my life. Follow_up —
SWLS_4 So far I have gotten the important things I want in life Baseline —
SWLS_4 So far I have gotten the important things I want in life Follow_up —
SWLS_5 If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing Baseline —
SWLS_5 If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing Follow_up —
WEMWBS_1 I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future Baseline —
WEMWBS_1 I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future Follow_up —
WEMWBS_10 I’ve been able to make up my own mind about things Baseline —
WEMWBS_10 I’ve been able to make up my own mind about things Follow_up —
WEMWBS_11 I’ve been feeling loved Baseline —
WEMWBS_11 I’ve been feeling loved Follow_up —
WEMWBS_12 I’ve been interested in new things Baseline —
WEMWBS_12 I’ve been interested in new things Follow_up —
WEMWBS_13 I’ve been feeling cheerful Baseline —
WEMWBS_13 I’ve been feeling cheerful Follow_up —
WEMWBS_2 I’ve been feeling useful Baseline —
WEMWBS_2 I’ve been feeling useful Follow_up —
WEMWBS_3 I’ve been feeling interested in other people Baseline —
WEMWBS_3 I’ve been feeling interested in other people Follow_up —
WEMWBS_4 I’ve had energy to spare Baseline —
WEMWBS_4 I’ve had energy to spare Follow_up —
WEMWBS_5 I’ve been dealing with problems well Baseline —
WEMWBS_5 I’ve been dealing with problems well Follow_up —
WEMWBS_6 I’ve been thinking clearly Baseline —
WEMWBS_6 I’ve been thinking clearly Follow_up —
WEMWBS_7 I’ve been feeling good about myself Baseline —
WEMWBS_7 I’ve been feeling good about myself Follow_up —
WEMWBS_8 I’ve been feeling close to other people Baseline —
WEMWBS_8 I’ve been feeling close to other people Follow_up —
WEMWBS_9 I’ve been feeling confident Baseline —
WEMWBS_9 I’ve been feeling confident Follow_up —

Publications

Main Publication

Impact of a Momentary Mindfulness Intervention on Rumination, Negative Affect, and their Dynamics in Daily Life

Title:
Impact of a Momentary Mindfulness Intervention on Rumination, Negative Affect, and their Dynamics in Daily Life
Authors:
Bolzenkötter, T., Neubauer A. B., Koval, P.
Year of publication:
2025
Publication name:
Affective Science
Volume number:
6
Issue number:
-
Page numbers:
259-271
DOI or URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-024-00291-9
Publication type:
Refereed Journal Article

Additional publications

  • Neubauer, A. B., Koval, P., Zyphur, M. J., & Hamaker, E. L. (2025). Experiments in daily life: When causal within-person effects do (not) translate into between-person differences. Psychological Methods. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000741

IS 20/07/2025: Date_Local and Time_Local variables changed from completed timepoints to scheduled timepoints. Original date and time local variable is now labelled as COMPLETED_DATE_TIME.