EFFECTS AND MECHANISMS OF A 14-DAY MINDFULNESS ECOLOGICAL MOMENTARY INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ELEVATED SOCIAL ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

Abstract

While mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated effectiveness among clinical and non-clinical populations, mindfulness delivered as an ecological momentary intervention has yet to be investigated for individuals with subclinical to clinical levels of social anxiety. This study thus investigated the efficacy of a 14-day smartphone-delivered mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) for individuals with elevated social anxiety symptoms, as well as possible mechanisms through which the MEMI may improve outcomes. One hundred and ninety-one participants were randomly assigned to receive a 14-day MEMI or self-monitoring placebo. Following an initial assessment and psychoeducation session, participants were prompted five times daily for 14 consecutive days to engage in brief mindfulness or self-monitoring. Participants then completed self-report questionnaires at mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up to assess intervention outcomes. Contrary to predictions, both groups demonstrated similarly significant reductions in social anxiety and negative perseverative thinking at post-intervention, with improvements maintained at 1-month follow-up. Similar improvements were also demonstrated for secondary outcome variables of mindfulness, depression, and generalized anxiety. Exploratory analyses of potential mediators revealed increased self-compassion to be a possible mechanism unique to the MEMI. Despite the lack of support for proposed hypotheses, the study?s findings provided promising indications that a standalone brief MEMI could be an effective intervention for social anxiety, especially for individuals who may otherwise be unable or unwilling to seek help. Possible future modifications to enhance the efficacy of MEMIs are also discussed.