An exploration of different types of mindfulness practice on wellbeing outcomes

This study is a four-arm randomised controlled experiment. Participants will randomly be assigned to one of four groups: 1) Informal mindfulness practice instructions only, 2) Formal mindfulness practice instructions only, 3) both informal and formal mindfulness practice instructions, 4) a waitlist control group who will not receive any intervention for the duration of the study. Each of the three mindfulness instruction groups will participate in five mindfulness classes, taking place online (via Zoom) for one hour once a week over five weeks. Mindfulness instructions for each of the intervention groups include introductions, instructions to the different types of practices (i.e. formal practice, informal practice depending on group assignment) and psycho-education on mindfulness. Mindfulness classes are going to be delivered via trained health professionals who are experienced in delivering mindfulness instructions, and who have experience of delivering this mindfulness course (when it is formal and informal mindfulness practice, i.e. group 3). Prior to commencement of the study, the mindfulness teachers will receive training of one hour by the study researchers to make sure they only teach the relevant components for each class, i.e. for group 1, only focus on informal mindfulness practice instruction, for group 2, only focus on formal mindfulness practice instruction, and for group 3, focus on both, formal and informal mindfulness practice instruction. Participants will only receive instructions that relate to their particular group (e.g., the informal mindfulness practice group only receives instructions about informal practices, the formal mindfulness practice group only about formal practices, etc.). Groups that include formal mindfulness practice instructions, i.e., the group that only receives formal mindfulness practice instructions as well as the group receiving instructions on both, formal and informal practice, will also be given audio recordings of practices (via email) to be completed outside of sessions, as is customary for most mindfulness programs. These formal mindfulness practices are guided audio recordings of meditation ranging from 5 minutes to 10 minutes. These audio recordings focus on paying attention on present moment experiences, such as the sensations of breathing, and/or paying particular attention to the body, guided by Prof Craig Hassed, who is an experienced mindfulness teacher and who has recorded these audio tracks. Informal mindfulness practice instructions on the other hand are only given during the live sessions with the mindfulness teacher, where participants are ask to mindfully pay attention to particular tasks they are doing throughout their day, such as being mindful when washing dishes/brushing teeth, etc. The session content has been adapted from an existing mindfulness course by Prof Craig Hassed (M3CS, Monash University). Participant adherence will be monitored at the beginning of each session by the session instructors, and by self-report measures.