Does It Matter How Meditation Feels? An Experience Sampling Study

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Positive and negative affect dimensions were negatively correlated overall, within participants, and between participants (all ps < .001).

“Correlations between affect dimensions were r = −.34 (overall), r = −.42 (within participant), and r = −.27 (between participant), all ps < .001.”

May combine two claims.

Adding pre- to follow-up change in psychological distress to the model explained 27% of variance in positive affect slopes and 7% of variance in negative affect slopes.

“Thus, the addition of pre- to follow-up psychological distress was associated with an R2 of 0.27 for positive affect slope (i.e., [0.41 – 0.30] / 0.41) and an R2 of 0.07 for negative affect slope (i.e., [0.27 – 0.25] / 0.27).”

May combine two claims.

Adding pre- to post-test change in psychological distress to the model explained 20% of variance in positive affect slopes and 19% of variance in negative affect slopes.

“Thus, the addition of pre- to post-test psychological distress was associated with an R2 of 0.20 for positive affect slope (i.e., [0.41 – 0.33] / 0.41) and an R2 of 0.19 for negative affect slope (i.e., [0.27 – 0.22] / 0.27).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The computer adaptive PROMIS Depression and Anxiety measures have strong convergent validity with legacy measures.

“The computer adaptive PROMIS Depression and PROMIS Anxiety measures have shown strong convergent validity with legacy measures assessing these constructs (Choi et al., 2014; Schalet et al., 2014).”

• cites Choi et al., 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Schalet et al., 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The parent trial's preregistered primary outcome was a composite of depression, anxiety, and stress measures.

“The preregistered primary outcome for the RCT was psychological distress which was computed as a composite of depression, anxiety, and stress measures.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The parent trial had a preregistered target sample size of 400, estimated to provide 80% power to detect between-group differences of Cohen's d ≥ 0.38, assuming 43.4% attrition and α = .050.

“The preregistered target sample size for the RCT was 400 which was estimated to provide 80% power to detect between-group differences of Cohen’s d ≥ 0.38, assuming 43.4% attrition (Linardon & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, 2020) with α = .050.”

• cites Linardon & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The parent randomized controlled trial was preregistered, but the analyses reported in this study were exploratory and not preregistered.

“The RCT from which these data were drawn was preregistered (Hirshberg et al., 2022; NCT04426318 ) although the analyses reported here were exploratory and not preregistered.”

• cites Hirshberg et al., 2022Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites NCT04426318Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Because there were many Level 2 units, the authors used robust standard errors, which are less sensitive to violations of multilevel model assumptions.

“Given the large number of Level 2 units, we interpreted results using robust standard errors as these are less sensitive to violations of multilevel model assumptions (Snijders & Bosker, 2012).”

• cites Snijders & Bosker, 2012Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A psychological distress composite was computed based on prior work showing high correlations among depression, anxiety, and stress measures.

“A psychological distress composite was computed based on prior work showing high correlations between these measures (Goldberg, Imhoff-Smith, et al., 2020).”

• cites Goldberg, Imhoff-Smith, et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The mechanisms underlying potential beneficial effects of mHealth mindfulness-based interventions remain unclear.

“the mechanisms underlying potential beneficial effects remain unclear (Goldberg, 2022)”

• cites Goldberg, 2022Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Empirical evidence from hundreds of randomized controlled trials suggests that mindfulness-based interventions produce mental health effects superior to waitlist controls and comparable to other evidence-based treatments.

“empirical evidence from hundreds of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggesting that, on average, MBIs produce effects on various mental health outcomes that are superior to waitlist controls and on par with other evidence-based treatments (Galante et al., 2021; Goldberg et al., 2022; Kuyken et al., 2016).”

• cites Galante et al., 2021Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Goldberg et al., 2022Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Kuyken et al., 2016Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

The study did not manipulate affect, so associations between changes in affect and changes in outcomes are correlational.

“Fourth, we did not manipulate affect and thus associations between changes in affect and changes in outcomes are ultimately correlational.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Traditional early Buddhist sources highlight the value of attending to the affective valence of present moment experience.

“Traditional early Buddhist sources such as the “mindfulness sutta” (Satipatthana Sutta) that have served as a major part of the basis for secular forms of mindfulness meditation (Harrington & Dunne, 2015) highlight the value of attending to the affective valence of present moment experience (Analayo, 2018).”

• cites Analayo, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The small number of items may have reduced the reliability of affect ratings.

“Moreover, the small number of items may have reduced reliability of affect ratings (although this presumably would have made it more difficult to detect associations with changes in distress).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In this sample, the Perceived Stress Scale had adequate internal consistency (α = .85).

“Internal consistency was adequate (α = .85).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

All models were estimated with maximum likelihood, an approach robust to data missing at random.

“Maximum likelihood estimation was used for all models which is robust to data missing at random (Graham, 2009).”

• cites Graham, 2009Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

State mindfulness and decentering during meditation increase over the course of training.

“state mindfulness and decentering (i.e., curiosity and awareness of experience with healthy psychological distance; Lau et al., 2006) during meditation have been shown to increase over the course of training (Shoham et al., 2017)”

• cites Shoham et al., 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The study did not assess affect before each meditation practice session or outside the context of meditation practice.

“Third, we did not assess affect prior to each meditation practice session nor outside of the context of meditation practice.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Early Buddhist sources describe the increase in joy and calm over meditative development.

“These sources also describe the increase in other affective experiences such as joy and calm, two of the “seven factors of awakening” that are viewed as mental factors that mature over the course of training (Analayo, 2018).”

• cites Analayo, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Non-mindfulness styles of meditation, such as practices from later Buddhist traditions, often emphasize the cultivation of particular mental qualities and affective experiences.

“non-mindfulness styles of meditation practice including practices drawn from later Buddhist traditions (e.g., Tibetan Buddhism) often emphasize the cultivation of particular mental qualities and affective experiences (Dahl et al., 2015).”

• cites Dahl et al., 2015Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Post-practice affect items were drawn from prior experience sampling work on the subjective experience of meditation.

“Items were drawn from prior experience sampling work investigating the subjective experience of meditation practice (Shoham et al., 2017).”

• cites Shoham et al., 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Mindfulness meditation is the most popular content within mental health apps, with Headspace and Calm accounting for 90% of monthly active users of mental health apps.

“Mindfulness meditation specifically has emerged as by far the most popular content within mental health apps, with the two most widely used meditation apps (Headspace and Calm) alone accounting for 90% of monthly active users of mental health apps (Wasil et al., 2020).”

• cites Wasil et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Residualized change in psychological distress was available for 219 participants (90.1%) at post-test and 218 (89.7%) at 3-month follow-up among those providing at least one post-meditation rating.

“Of participants providing one or more post-meditation practice ratings, residualized change in psychological distress was available for 219 (90.1%) at post-test and 218 (89.7%) at 3-month follow-up.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The fixed form versions of the PROMIS Depression and Anxiety scales have adequate internal consistency reliability (αs ≥ .90).

“the fixed form versions of the PROMIS Depression and PROMIS Anxiety scales have shown adequate internal consistency reliability (αs ≥ .90; Pilkonis et al., 2011).”

• cites Pilkonis et al., 2011Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

mHealth mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation apps, are a promising means for disseminating evidence-based mental health strategies.

“mHealth MBIs including meditation apps have emerged as a promising means for dissemination of evidence-based strategies to support mental health (Wasil et al., 2020).”

• cites Wasil et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Affect during meditation may be a highly relevant target for routine monitoring with mHealth mindfulness-based interventions.

“These results support the notion that affect during meditation may be a highly relevant target for routine monitoring with mHealth MBIs.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Improvements in state mindfulness during meditation are linked to decreases in distress within Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

“with improvements in state mindfulness during meditation linked to decreases in distress within the context of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; Kiken et al., 2015).”

• cites Kiken et al., 2015Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Practice quality has been associated with improvements in distress and trait mindfulness and has been shown to mediate the association between formal practice and outcomes within Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

“has been associated with improvements in distress and trait mindfulness and shown to mediate the association between formal practice and outcomes within MBSR (Del Re et al., 2013; Goldberg et al., 2014; Goldberg, Knoeppel, et al., 2020).”

• cites Del Re et al., 2013Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Goldberg et al., 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Goldberg, Knoeppel, et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale has strong convergent and discriminant validity.

“The 10-item PSS has shown strong convergent and discriminant validity (Roberti et al., 2006).”

• cites Roberti et al., 2006Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Walsh et al. used a mood composite and did not examine positive and negative mood separately.

“Although Walsh et al. used a measure of mood that assessed both positive and negative affect, their analyses focused on a mood composite and did not examine positive and negative mood separately.”

• cites Walsh et al., 2019Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Loving-kindness and compassion practices involve the intentional cultivation of feelings of warmth and kindness toward oneself and others.

“loving-kindness and compassion practices involve the intentional cultivation of feelings of warmth and kindness towards oneself and others, which have an affective valence (Dahl et al., 2020).”

• cites Dahl et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

It is possible that changes in affect during meditation mirror general changes in affect and that this general change, rather than a meditation-specific change, is associated with outcomes.

“Thus, it is entirely possible that the changes in affect during meditation mirror changes being generally experienced by the participants and that it is this general change in affect, rather than a meditation-specific or meditation-induced change in affect, that is associated with outcomes.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The mHealth mindfulness-based intervention context may be a fruitful place to explore these dynamics.

“The mHealth MBI context may be a fruitful place to explore these dynamics, given proximal indicators of long-term effects can be readily assessed and theoretically responded to within digital interventions.”

May combine two claims.

The sample was predominantly distressed participants from a non-clinical setting (public schools), and results may or may not generalize to treatment-seeking populations.

“In addition, the sample was predominantly distressed participants drawn from a non-clinical setting (public schools) and results may or may not generalize to treatment seeking populations.”