International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP
January 1, 2024
Yanjuan Li, Mengyao He, Zhenzhen Wang et al.
18 citations
Across two randomized controlled trials, a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) improved mindfulness, distress tolerance, anxiety, and depression more than control conditions. In Study 1, 374 adults with moderate emotional distress were assigned to MBI or a waitlist; in Study 2, 170 adults with emotional disorders were assigned to MBI or a control group. Changes in distress tolerance explained the intervention's effects on anxiety and depression. Distress tolerance also preceded improvements in depression over time, but not in anxiety. Distress tolerance appears to be a mechanism through which MBIs reduce emotional distress, suggesting that boosting distress tolerance could strengthen these interventions.
Psychotherapy and psychosomatics
January 1, 2025
Yanjuan Li, Yi Zhang, Chun Wang et al.
13 citations
Adding facilitator-supported mindfulness-based self-help (MBSH) to usual treatment leads to faster and greater reductions in anxiety and depression for people with emotional disorders. In a randomized trial with 302 patients from four centers, those who received MBSH plus usual care showed significantly more improvement in symptoms, mindfulness, physical symptoms, stress, sleep, and inner peace immediately after the program compared to those receiving usual care alone. Some benefits, including reduced depression and stress and increased mindfulness, appeared as early as three to five weeks and were maintained three months later. The approach is a scalable and effective addition to clinical practice.
Clinical psychology & psychotherapy
January 1, 2024
Zhenzhen Wang, Kaerqika Shalihaer, Stefan G Hofmann et al.
10 citations
A 49-day online mindfulness intervention for emotional distress (MIED) increased attentional control and reduced anxiety and depression in 498 adults with high emotional distress, compared with a waitlist control group. Changes became evident by the third week. Statistical analyses showed that improvements in attentional control mediated the program's effects on later anxiety and depression levels. The findings suggest that mindfulness-based programs may alleviate emotional distress partly by strengthening attentional control.
Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research
November 17, 2024
Zhenzhen Wang, Xinyi Tang, Amy Hu et al.
5 citations
Decentering—the ability to observe thoughts and feelings as temporary mental events rather than as reflections of reality—may be a key mechanism through which mindfulness-based interventions reduce anxiety and depression. In a cross-sectional study of 998 adults with high emotional distress, decentering significantly mediated the link between mindfulness and lower symptoms. In a longitudinal randomized trial, 688 participants were assigned to a Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) or a waitlist control. The MIED group showed greater improvements in decentering, anxiety, and depression over time. Reciprocal influences between decentering and distress were observed, and decentering during the intervention significantly mediated the program's effect on reducing emotional distress.
Journal of counseling psychology
July 14, 2025
Zhenzhen Wang, Mo Chen, Amy Hu et al.
2 citations
Two randomized controlled trials tested whether cognitive flexibility—the ability to shift attention—explains how a mindfulness intervention reduces emotional distress. In Study 1, 607 highly distressed adults were assigned to an eight-week mindfulness program or a waitlist. In Study 2, 89 similar participants were assigned to the program or a control group. Both trials showed that the mindfulness program significantly improved anxiety, depression, and general distress. Changes in cognitive flexibility during the intervention statistically mediated later reductions in emotional distress. Specifically, shifting attention away from affective to nonaffective aspects of positive stimuli at week 5, and less shifting from negative to positive affective aspects at week 3, predicted greater distress relief at week 7. The findings indicate cognitive flexibility is a key mechanism of mindfulness-based intervention for emotional distress.