The effects of computer-based mindfulness training on Self-control and Mindfulness within Ambulatorily assessed network Systems across Health-related domains in a healthy student population (SMASH): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Self-control is an important ability in everyday life, showing associations with health-related outcomes. The aim of the Self-control and Mindfulness within Ambulatorily assessed network Systems across Health-related domains (SMASH) study is twofold: first, the effectiveness of a computer-based mindfulness training will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Second, the SMASH study implements a novel network approach in order to investigate complex temporal interdependencies of self-control networks across several domains.

Methods: The SMASH study is a two-armed, 6-week, non-blinded randomized controlled trial that combines seven weekly laboratory meetings and 40 days of electronic diary assessments with six prompts per day in a healthy undergraduate student population at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. Participants will be randomly assigned to (1) receive a computer-based mindfulness intervention or (2) to a wait-list control condition. Primary outcomes are self-reported momentary mindfulness and self-control assessed via electronic diaries. Secondary outcomes are habitual mindfulness and habitual self-control. Further measures include self-reported behaviors in specific self-control domains: emotion regulation, alcohol consumption and eating behaviors. The effects of mindfulness training on primary and secondary outcomes are explored using three-level mixed models. Furthermore, networks will be computed with vector autoregressive mixed models to investigate the dynamics at participant and group level. This study was approved by the local ethics committee (reference code 2015_JGU_psychEK_011) and follows the standards laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki (2013).

Discussion: This randomized controlled trial combines an intensive Ambulatory Assessment of 40 consecutive days and seven laboratory meetings. By implementing a novel network approach, underlying processes of self-control within different health domains will be identified. These results will deepen the understanding of self-control performance and will guide to just-in-time individual interventions for several health-related behaviors.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02647801 . Registered on 15 December 2015 (registered retrospectively). .

Keywords: Ambulatory assessment; Mindfulness; Network approach; Randomized controlled trial; Self-control.

Figures

Fig. 1

Participant time-line. Both conditions come to all assessment time points and take part in an Ambulatory Assessment. Ambulatory Assessment starts 1 day after the baseline assessment: for 40 consecutive days, signals are distributed six times a day (all items are listed in Additional file 2). KIMS Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Scale, BFI-44 Big Five Inventory-44, MAAS Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, SCS-K-D Self-control Scale-K-D, SDS-17 Social Desirability Scale-17, WHO-5 World Health Organization Five Wellbeing Index, BSI-18 Brief Symptom Inventory, ERQ Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, AAS Adult Attachment Scale, DEBQ Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, TMS Toronto Mindfulness Scale. The post-intervention Feedback Questionnaire assesses effort that was expended during Ambulatory Assessment

Fig. 2

Time-to-time dynamics between several variables at baseline (day 1 till day 6). Variables: SCD = self-control depletion; M = mindfulness; NA = negative affect; NE = negative event; C = conflict; D = desire strength. Solid arrows represent positive relations and dashed arrows represent negative relations. The thicker the line the higher is the fixed-effect coefficient. In this case, only coefficients reaching significance are presented (p < .05)