Intervention-induced changes in state mindfulness do not predict trait changes in mindfulness, self-compassion, or perceived stress.
Kira S A Borgdorf, Gabriela Küchler, Cornelia Wrzus, Corina Aguilar-raab
Scientific reports November 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-27697-0
Summary
Participants in a socioemotional intervention showed significant improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, and reduced perceived stress. Yet, a surprising finding emerged: while weekly increases in moment-to-moment 'state mindfulness' were observed, these shifts did not predict long-term 'trait mindfulness' or other well-being changes. This research explored state-trait associations in 166 adults over eight weeks. The positive results highlight that how an intervention is framed, rather than just the experience of mindfulness itself, may be crucial for developing enduring self-compassion and managing perceived stress.
Abstract
Previous research has identified state mindfulness as a key change mechanism in explicitly mindfulness-based interventions to increase trait mindfulness and reduce stress. This study extends previous work by examining trajectories of state mindfulness and their associations with trait indicators of mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress when mindfulness practices are delivered within a Socioemotional Competence Training (SECT) without explicit mindfulness labeling. A sample of 166 healthy younger and older German adults (75.2% female; Mage = 46.26; SDage = 18.70) participated in the 8-week SECT. State mindfulness was assessed weekly, whereas trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress were assessed before, during, and after the training. Second-order latent growth models suggest significant pre-post improvements in all state and trait variables (d = |0.38| to |0.62|), but trait changes were not predicted by changes in state mindfulness. These findings indicate that while state mindfulness increases during the Socioemotional Competence Training, these increases alone appear insufficient to drive changes in trait mindfulness and related outcomes. Results suggest that intervention framing could play a crucial role in facilitating explicit connections between state experiences and trait development, contributing to our understanding of mindfulness as a change mechanism in psychological interventions.