Mindfulness Meditation Adherence in a College Sample: Comparison of a 10-Min Versus 20-Min 2-Week Daily Practice

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are efficacious and effective for a variety of mental and physical health problems. Mindfulness meditation is a primary therapeutic strategy employed within MBIs and is hypothesized to increase mindfulness and, in turn, lead to positive outcomes. However, evidence in support of mindfulness meditation practice as a key treatment component in MBIs is mixed, in part because little is known about how prescribed meditation practice times and adherence to home-based meditation practice relate to one another and outcomes. The present study evaluated relations among adherence, meditation practice time, and psychiatric symptoms following two 2-week mindfulness meditation interventions: one that prescribed 10-min daily meditation and another that prescribed 20-min daily meditation. Participants (N = 77; female = 56, M_age = 20.16; White = 51.9%; African American = 14.3%; Hispanic = 14.3%; Asian = 10.4%; other = 6.5%; multiethnic = 2.6%) also completed daily diaries to assess adherence. Results indicated no significant group difference in total days meditated or overall time spent meditating. Stress declined and mindfulness increased over the 2 weeks for both groups. Despite no difference in adherence, participants in the 20-min group reported larger increases in self-compassion relative to those in the 10-min group. Implications for enhancing adherence within MBIs are discussed.