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Cited by 16Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionPsychometric Methodologies and Testing

Mindfulness or expectancy? The label of mindfulness leads to expectancy effects

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Ghanbari Noshari, Mona, Kempton, Heather Mary, Kreplin, Ute·2023·Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
DOI 10.1002/capr.12589
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Abstract

The increasing popularity of mindfulness practices has seen an accompanying growth in research that includes the development of several self‐report mindfulness measures. However, while caution has been recommended in the use of these self‐reports, there has been little direct assessment of their susceptibility to expectancy effects. This research aimed at understanding whether expectancy effects exist for self‐reported mindfulness measures (Study 1; n = 60), and how expectancy effects might manifest in relation to positive and negative expectancy (Study 2; n = 60). The first study manipulated whether (i) the task (jigsaws) was labelled as “mindfulness,” and (ii) whether “authentic” mindfulness instructions were given. Given any increases in self‐reported mindfulness might potentially occur due to engaging in the mindful and attentionally demanding task, the second study manipulated whether the introduction placed mindfulness in a positive or negative context. A pre‐/post‐test design was employed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and Applied Mindfulness Process Scale self‐report measures for mindfulness and the Perceived Stress Scale for well‐being. The findings revealed expectancy effects for simply using the term mindfulness and that the direction of effects could be manipulated. This research suggests that researchers need to be cautious in evaluating self‐reports of mindfulness practice due to expectancy effects, especially in the context of brief interventions without objective measures.

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  • In mindfulness-based programs, participants are explicitly introduced to concepts and practices that overlap with the items they later complete, which increases the risk of demand characteristics and responses shaped by perceived expectations.

    “In mindfulness-based programs, participants are explicitly introduced to concepts and practices that overlap with the items they later complete, which increases the risk of demand characteristics and responses shaped by perceived expectations (Davidson & Kaszniak, 2015; Ghanbari Noshari et al., 2023).”

    From Measuring mindfulness: A systematic review and evaluation of self-report mindfulness scales (2026) · cites this paper as Ghanbari Noshari et al., 2023

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Authors
Ghanbari Noshari, M., Kempton, H. M., & Kreplin, U.
Affiliations
  • School of Psychology Massey University Auckland New Zealand
  • Massey University (NZ)
Corresponding author
Kempton, Heather Mary
ORCID
Venue
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2022-11
Volume
23
Issue
1
Pages
49-63
ISSN
  • 1473-3145 (ISSN-L)
  • 1746-1405
DOI
10.1002/capr.12589
OpenAlex
W4307852827
Cited by
16
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords
mindfulness, expectancy effects, self-report measures, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, brief intervention, well-being

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