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 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA socioemotional training program that did not mention mindfulness increased weekly state mindfulness and improved trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress in 166 healthy German adults, with effect sizes ranging from 0.38 to 0.62. However, increases in state mindfulness did not predict changes in those trait measures, suggesting that simply experiencing more mindful states during training is not enough to drive lasting trait changes. The way an intervention is framed may be important for helping people connect momentary experiences to stable personality shifts.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 166 |
| Population | Healthy younger and older German adults |
| Intervention | Socioemotional Competence Training |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Perceived stress Self-compassion Socioemotional intervention State-trait associations |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | State mindfulness increased during a socioemotional training without explicit mindfulness labeling, but these increases did not predict improvements in trait mindfulness, self-compassion, or 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.