Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Psychology

First Advisor

John Young

Second Advisor

Karen K. Kellum

Third Advisor

Sarah Bilsky

School

University of Mississippi

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

The present study examined the moderating role of engagement in a technology-based mindfulness intervention among college students. Drawing on archival data from a prior randomized controlled trial, the analysis focused on whether self-reported engagement influenced changes in mindfulness as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Seventy-five participants in the mindfulness intervention group received brief psychoeducational and practice-based text messages over a 21-day period. A moderation analysis using PROCESS macro tested whether engagement moderated the relationship between pre- and post-intervention mindfulness scores. Results indicated that engagement did not significantly moderate changes in total FFMQ scores, providing no support for the primary hypothesis. However, analyses revealed that engagement significantly moderated scores on the Describing subscale of the FFMQ, suggesting a potential facet-specific relationship between engagement and mindfulness outcomes. Moderation analyses for the other four subscales of the FFMQ were not significant. Limitations included reliance on a single self-report measure for engagement and a demographically homogeneous sample. Findings underscore the complexity of dose-response dynamics in mindfulness-based interventions and point to the need for more nuanced approaches to measuring and optimizing engagement in digital mindfulness interventions.

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