Waiting for pain: effect of a mindfulness intervention during a wait situation on pain intensity.
Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) January 1, 2025 Rebecca Stewing, Thomas Forkmann, Elisabeth Vögtle et al.
A brief mindfulness intervention given to 93 female students waiting for an experimental pressure-pain task increased their state mindfulness but did not reduce perceived pain intensity. Participants who were instructed to worry about the upcoming pain reported higher pain intensity afterward, consistent with known negative effects of worry. No significant differences in pain ratings emerged between the mindfulness, worry, and control groups overall, and pain intensity did not change from baseline to post-intervention across conditions. The findings suggest that a single session of mindfulness can boost momentary mindfulness but may not affect the sensory component of acute pain; future work should examine effects on the emotional aspect of pain.