Effect of Digital Mindfulness Intervention on Mood States: The Moderating Role of Life Orientation

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a 10-day app-based mindfulness intervention on positive and negative mood states, and explored the moderating role of life orientation in a Pakistani university sample. A pre-test post-test experimental design was employed with 26 participants randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 13), who used the Medito mindfulness application daily, or a waitlist control group (n = 13). Mood states were assessed using the abbreviated Profile of Mood States (POMS), and mindfulness levels were measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Life orientation was assessed at baseline using the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). Paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests were used to examine within-group changes, while Mann-Whitney U tests assessed between-group differences. Bootstrap analyses (1,000 samples) were employed for robust inference. Results indicated a non-significant but practically meaningful reduction in negative affect (t(12) = 2.08, p = .060, d = .58) and modest improvements in positive affect within the experimental group. No statistically significant between-group differences in mood change scores were observed. Spearman correlations revealed no significant association between life orientation and mood change in the experimental group, suggesting that life orientation did not moderate mindfulness outcomes. Findings are discussed in the context of small sample limitations and the feasibility of digital mindfulness delivery. Implications for personalized mental health interventions are highlighted.