The Mindful Media Project

Monash University26 enrolled

Overview

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is an emerging mental health issue. Research consistently shows that university students are disproportionately vulnerable to experiencing PIU, and that this can be linked with both poorer academic performance and mental health outcomes. Despite these adverse consequences, there has been no research to date on treatments for those experiencing PIU. Preliminary research suggests that one promising candidate is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is a popular form of brain training that helps develop an ability to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions, break compulsive behavioural patterns and make more mindful behavioural choices. The current proof-of-concept study aims to investigate the clinical potential of mindfulness meditation in reducing PIU severity for Australian university students who endorse moderate to severe PIU symptoms.

Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI) is an umbrella term encapsulating excessive and uncontrolled engagement with internet-related activities. PIU is increasingly recognised as an emerging mental health issue. It is characterised by a perceived loss of control over internet use despite repeated attempts to regulate it, and excessive internet-specific preoccupations or urges that result in distress and life impairment. Research consistently shows that university students are disproportionately vulnerable to experiencing PIU, and that this can be linked with both poorer academic performance and mental health outcomes. Despite these adverse consequences, there has been no research to date on treatments for those experiencing PIU. Preliminary research suggests that one promising candidate for addressing PIU is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is a popular form of brain training that helps develop an ability to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions, break compulsive behavioural patterns and make more mindful behavioural choices. The current study is a proof of principal investigation. The primary aim is to evaluate the efficacy of a brief mindfulness meditation intervention for PIU among Australian university students who endorse moderate to severe PIU. The study will investigate a 30 day combination of daily meditation practice using the Headspace Inc supported by weekly online group meditation tuition. In order to support participant engagement in the meditation practices, a range of behaviour change techniques will be applied. A secondary is to evaluation the efficacy of these behaviour change techniques in support engagement.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Voluntary and able to provide informed consent * Endorse current moderate to severe PIU on IAT-10 * Currently attending an Australian university (full-time or part-time, international or domestic student) * Ability to adhere to study procedures * If taking psychoactive medication, have been stable on same type and dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study commencement Exclusion Criteria: * History of neurological illness or moderate to severe brain injury * Severely impaired visual/auditory ability * Diagnosed history of learning difficulty or other condition involving cognitive impairment as a primary feature. * Lack of both verbal and written fluency in English * Have engaged in \> 10 instances of formal mindfulness meditation practice in past 12 months

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Problematic Internet Use (PIU) severity

10-item abbreviated Internet Addiction Test (IAT-10). Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating increasing severity of PIU.

Time frame: Change from baseline PIU severity at 1 month (post-intervention).

Secondary Outcomes

Change in response inhibition

Stop Signal Task

Time frame: Baseline (0 months), Post-Intervention (1 month), Follow-Up (2-months)

Change in psychological distress

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) consists of 21 items, 7 items per subscale: depression, anxiety and stress. For each subscale, scores can range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater severity or worse outcomes.

Time frame: Change from baseline psychological distress at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Change in experiential avoidance

The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) is a 15-item short form of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire. Scores can range from 15 to 90, with higher scores indicating greater experiential avoidance.

Time frame: Change from baseline experiential avoidance at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Change in trait mindfulness

The Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale Revised (CAMS-R) is a 12-item scale, with scores ranging from 12 to 48. High scores indicate greater mindful qualities.

Time frame: Change from baseline trait mindfulness at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Change in psychological wellbeing

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-item measure of psychological wellbeing, with scores ranging from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher levels of mental wellbeing.

Time frame: Change from baseline psychological wellbeing at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Change in resilience

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale is a 10-item scale measuring resilience. Scores range from 0 to 40, and higher scores indicate higher resilience.

Time frame: Change from baseline resilience at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Change in social connectedness

The Campaign to End Loneliness Tool is a brief 3-item measure of social connectedness. Scores range from 0 to 12, and higher scores reflect greater social connectedness.

Time frame: Change from baseline social connectedness at 1 month (post-intervention) and 2 months (one-month follow-up post intervention).

Number of participants retained in mindfulness intervention

Number of participants who completed the intervention

Time frame: Post-Intervention (1 month)

Engagement in intervention

Number of meditation sessions completed