Exploring the Efficacy of a Brief Mindfulness Training Program for Indian Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Mindfulness interventions have demonstrated enhancements in attentional control and emotion regulation. Nevertheless, there is a limited body of research on shorter mindfulness programs. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we examined the impact of a short-term mindfulness training on attentional control for irrelevant emotional information in healthy adults, compared to a control group. Methods: Thirty-one adults were randomly assigned to either a 10-day mindfulness training program or a passive control group. Before and after the intervention, participants completed three computerized tasks assessing attentional control, each generating notable emotional distraction effects. Additionally, participants completed self-reported measures of trait mindfulness, positive and negative affect, and depression anxiety, and stress. Training feedback was collected to evaluate training-related engagement. Results: The findings indicated slightly improved attentional control in the mindfulness training group compared to the passive control group, despite both groups showing similar improvements in task performance. Symptoms of stress and anxiety decreased in the mindfulness group following the training relative to the passive control group. Conclusions: The study found preliminary support for the role of short mindfulness training in improving attentional control for irrelevant emotional information in healthy adults. Implementing brief mindfulness interventions in non-Western communities demands thorough contextual adjustments and instructor readiness.