Objectives
This study investigated the effect of mindfulness induction on attentional control in emotional contexts and explored whether the timing of emotional information modulated these effects.
Method
A total of 323 undergraduate students participated in the study, completing a Stroop task where a task-irrelevant emotional face (neutral, happy, or angry) either preceded the Stroop target (prime condition or prime; Experiment 1) or appeared simultaneously with it (concurrent condition or concur; Experiment 2). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the Mindfulness Induction group in Experiment 1 (MI-Prime), the Waitlist Control group in Experiment 1 (WLC-Prime), the Mindfulness Induction group in Experiment 2 (MI-Concur), and the Waitlist Control group in Experiment 2 (WLC-Concur). The Stroop interference effect served as the measure of attentional control.
Results
A mixed-measures ANOVA showed a significant group effect, with lower attentional control observed in the MI-Prime group compared to the MI-Concur group, and in the WLC-Prime group compared to the WLC-Concur group. A significant interaction effect between group and emotions indicated that task-irrelevant emotional faces influenced attentional control differently within the WLC groups. However, in the MI groups, emotional faces did not modulate attentional control. The four groups were comparable in terms of trait mindfulness, emotional states, and affect.
Conclusion
The timing of emotional information modulated attentional control irrespective of mindfulness induction. These findings support previous research on the cognitive benefits of mindfulness, even with brief, single-session practices lasting just a few minutes.
Preregistration
This study is not preregistered.