Integrating Mindfulness into Positive Psychology: a Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Positive Mindfulness Program

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to test the efficacy of an 8-week online intervention-based Positive Mindfulness Program (PMP) that integrated mindfulness with a series of positive psychology variables, with a view to im- proving well-being scores measured in these variables. The positive mindfulness cycle, based on positive intentions and savouring, provides the theoretical foundation for the PMP. The study was based on a randomised wait-list controlled trial, and 168 participants (128 females, mean age = 40.82) com- pleted the intervention which included daily videos, medita- tions and activities. The variables tested included well-being measures, such as gratitude, self-compassion, self-efficacy, meaning and autonomy. Pre- and post-intervention data, in- cluding 1 month after the end of the intervention, were col- lected from both experimental and control groups. The post- test measurements of the experimental participants showed a significant improvement in all the dependent variables com- pared with the pre-test ones and were also significantly higher than those of the control group. One month after the interven- tion, the experimental group participants retained their im- provement in 10 out of the 11 measurements. These positive results indicate that PMP may be effective in enhancing well- being and other positive variables in adult, non-clinical populations.