Can mindfulness and acceptance be learnt by self-help?: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help interventions.
There is growing evidence that mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions have positive consequences for psychological and physical health. The most well-established of these interventions typically involve relatively large resource commitments, in terms of both the provider and participant. A number of recent studies have begun to explore whether the benefits of such interventions can be generalised to less intensive methods. Methods include pure and guided self-help utilising resources such as books and workbooks, computer programmes and applications and audio-visual materials. This paper presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that have evaluated the effectiveness and acceptability of low-intensity interventions including mindfulness and acceptance-based components. Fifteen RCTs (7 ACT-based, 4 mindfulness-based and 4 multi-component interventions including elements of mindfulness and/or acceptance) were identified and reviewed. Interventions that included mindfulness and/or acceptance-based components produced significant benefits in comparison to control conditions on measures of mindfulness/acceptance, depression and anxiety with small to medium effect sizes. Engagement with the self-help interventions varied but on average two-thirds of participants completed post-intervention measures. Emerging research into low-intensity mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions is hopeful. Recommendations for research and practice are presented.
School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex BN1 9QH, UK; Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Research and Development Directorate, Hove BN3 7HZ, UK. Electronic address: kate.cavanagh@sussex.ac.uk.
Kate
K
Cavanagh
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hove BN3 7HZ, UK; Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Research and Development Directorate, Hove BN3 7HZ, UK.
Clara
C
Strauss
School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex BN1 9QH, UK.
Lewis
L
Forder
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hove BN3 7HZ, UK; Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Research and Development Directorate, Hove BN3 7HZ, UK; Department of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, UK.
Fergal
F
Jones
D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
Acceptance; Mindfulness; Self-help