Efficacy of Interactive Audio-based Mindfulness ChatGPT-Powered Intervention on Well-being

NCT ID: NCT07333365

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 210 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-30
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-31

Brief Summary

Brief mindfulness intervention is a short form is a form of short-duration practice, typically delivered for around 30 minutes or less (Howarth et al., 2019). It can be conducted in various formats, including a short breathing exercise or body scan (Palascha et al., 2021), and are increasingly offered through digital platforms, including app-based formats.

Empirical evidence has examined the efficacy of brief mindfulness intervention and yielded mixed results. For some studies, positive effects were found, while some studies found no supporting evidence. Such inconsistencies may be due to the several current limitations of brief mindfulness intervention. Firstly, the duration of the intervention is too short. Given this brevity, these short practices may not offer the same immersion and depth that traditional mindfulness may offer. Secondly, most brief mindfulness utilised audio-based formats, which tend to be passive in nature and may not fully engage participants. Lastly, for brief mindfulness delivered through app-based platforms, these applications adopt a self-help approach, which may lower engagement and user commitment. Moreover, these applications also relied on audio guides which lacks the student-facilitator engagement found in traditional classes.

To address the current limitations within the literature, a between-within-subjects experiment will be conducted where participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: (1) an interactive brief mindfulness breathing ChatGPT-powered intervention, (2) an interactive mind-wandering ChatGPT-powered control, or (3) a mindfulness breathing audio control. We hypothesise that the brief mindfulness breathing ChatGPT-powered intervention group will have significant improvements in well-being outcomes as compared to the other two control groups. By exploring the potential of an interactive ChatGPT-powered intervention, this study aims to understand its efficacy in improving well-being.

Conditions

Perceived Stress; Positive and Negative Affect; State Anxiety; Self Control; State Mindfulness Attention

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Interactive Mind Wandering (ChatGPT)

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mind wandering bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as "When you are ready, please share...What feeling or memory stood out most clearly as your mind wandered?", "When you are ready, please share...where did your attention drift... to just now?".

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Interactive Mind Wandering ChatGPT-Powered Intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mind wandering bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as "When you are ready, please share...What feeling or memory stood out most clearly as your mind wandered?", "When you are ready, please share...where did your attention drift... to just now?".

Interactive Mindfulness Breathing (ChatGPT)

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mindfulness breathing bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as " Share what this present moments feel like for you", "What sensations do you notice in your abdomen as you place your hand there?", "Share what stood out to you as you noticed your thoughts, feelings, or sensations just now.".

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Interactive Mindfulness Breathing ChatGPT-Powered Intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mindfulness breathing bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as " Share what this present moments feel like for you", "What sensations do you notice in your abdomen as you place your hand there?", "Share what stood out to you as you noticed your thoughts, feelings, or sensations just now.".

Mindfulness Breathing Audio

This intervention consists of listening to a 15-minute mindfulness breathing audio-only exercise, adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). There will be no verbal interactions in this intervention.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Mindfulness Breathing Audio-only

Intervention Type: OTHER

This intervention consists of listening to a 15-minute mindfulness breathing audio-only exercise, adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). There will be no verbal interactions in this intervention.

Interventions

Interactive Mindfulness Breathing ChatGPT-Powered Intervention

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mindfulness breathing bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as " Share what this present moments feel like for you", "What sensations do you notice in your abdomen as you place your hand there?", "Share what stood out to you as you noticed your thoughts, feelings, or sensations just now.".

Intervention Type: OTHER

Interactive Mind Wandering ChatGPT-Powered Intervention

The intervention is a ChatGPT-powered mind wandering bot configured using a 15-minute guided exercise adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). The session is divided into one-minute segments: the first minute provides settling instructions (for example, inviting participants to adopt a comfortable position), followed by step-by-step guidance of the mindfulness breathing exercise. To foster reflection and encourage active engagement, the chatbot was trained to interact with the participants using interactive prompts. This includes asking questions, such as "When you are ready, please share...What feeling or memory stood out most clearly as your mind wandered?", "When you are ready, please share...where did your attention drift... to just now?".

Intervention Type: OTHER

Mindfulness Breathing Audio-only

This intervention consists of listening to a 15-minute mindfulness breathing audio-only exercise, adapted from Hafenbrack et al. (2014), Clinton et al. (2018), and Arch and Craske (2006). There will be no verbal interactions in this intervention.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants who are aged 18 to 30 (inclusive)

Exclusion Criteria

• Not applicable

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Nanyang Technological University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Singapore Management University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Soh Xun Ci

Master of Philosophy in Psychology Student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Singapore Management University

Singapore, , Singapore

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Singapore

Central Contacts

Xun Ci Soh

Role: CONTACT

xunci.soh.2024@msps.smu.edu.sg

+65 83994980

Facility Contacts

Xun Ci Soh

Role: primary

xunci.soh.2024@msps.smu.edu.sg

+65 83994980

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

IRB-25-212-A172-M2(1125)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id