The Role of Anchoring and Distraction in the Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Reducing Emotional Reactivity

NCT06876220 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UHongKong(JC PandA_fMRI)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) on the use of anchoring and distraction as emotion care/regulation strategies. It is hypothesized that anchoring and distraction are related but different processes, which could be evidenced by fMRI. The investigators further hypothesized that mindfulness training could lead to functional changes in the brain, which could also be evidenced by fMRI.

Conditions

Mental Health Issue; Emotional Adjustment

Keywords

mindfulness; emotion regulation; emotion care; distraction; anchoring

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Brain activation during the emotion care/regulation task

  BOLD signal contrast when the participants performing an emotion counting Stroop task.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)

• Reaction time during the emotion care/regulation task

  Reaction time of the correct response in the emotion counting Stroop task.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)

• Accuracy during the emotion care/regulation task

  Accuracy of the emotion counting Stroop task.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline)

• Mindfulness

  The mean score of Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R, Feldman, Hayes, Kumar, Greeson, \& Laurenceau, 2007) is a self-report 5-point Likert scale measuring individual differences in mindfulness that includes 12 items. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of mindfulness, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)

• Psychological well-being

  The mean score of Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS; Ryff et al., 1995) includes 18 items measuring 6 aspects of wellbeing and happiness: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = highly disagree to 5 = highly agree, to rate the 18 statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score means a higher level of psychological well-being, i.e. an expected outcome from an effective mindfulness intervention.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)

• Use of distraction as a emotion care/regulation strategy

  The mean scores of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of distraction and its connection to attentional deployment with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)

• Use of anchoring as a emotion care/regulation strategy

  The mean score of five items of the self-developed scale to assess the use of anchoring with a pilot test. Participants used a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always, to rate the five statements. The mean score ranged from 1 to 5. A higher score indicates a greater tendency to employ distraction as an emotion regulation strategy. It's important to note that the score only reflects the habitual usage of this strategy and does not imply a better or worse outcome.

  Baseline (2 weeks before the intervention), Post-intervention (14-16 weeks after baseline), Follow-up (22-24 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (2)

intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive an 8-week mindfulness-based group intervention, namely Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L).

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)

waitlist controlled group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the wait-list control group will receive the same intervention, two months after the experimental group completed the intervention.

Interventions

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) BEHAVIORAL

MBCT-L is an 8-week group intervention where participants are guided to practice mindfulness and cognitive exercise. The course covers themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The course will be provided by mindfulness teachers who have completed the training offered by Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF). Throughout the eight weeks, the course guides the participants through various themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The sessions involve guided mindfulness practices, reflection, discussion, inquiry, and weekly home practice. The language of instruction is Cantonese.

intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Right-handed
• Currently registered in post-graduated program with professional counselling training

You may not qualify if:

• History of neurological or other disorders affecting the brain (such as encephalitis, epilepsy, birth defects, or polio)
• Have experienced a concussion, head or brain trauma, seizures, loss of consciousness
• Have been injured in the eye by a metallic foreign body.
• Have been injured by metallic foreign body (e.g. bullet, shrapnel)
• History of sickle cell anemia/kidney disease/diabetes, asthma, or allergies
• Long-term use of medication is required
• Currently pregnant or breast feeding.
• Had the following conditions or implants in their body:
• Surgical clips
• Cardiac pacemaker
• Neurostimulator/internal electrodes
• Insulin pump
• Internal shunt
• Metal screen / suture
• Cochlear implants

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

Jockey Club "Peace and Awareness" Mindfulness Culture in Schools Initiative, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Emotional Regulation

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Control; Social Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mindfulness; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Shui-fong Lam, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Gloria HY Wong

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director

Model Details: Two-armed, waitlist randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 26, 2023
• First Posted: March 14, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 21, 2025
• Study Completion: February 13, 2025
• Last Updated: July 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

HK (1)