There are no studies which address the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in interventions carried out online. This is the first study to examine the effect of two online mindfulness-based interventions on this cognitive function.

To assess changes on cognitive flexibility after two online mindfulness-based group interventions in adult patients with anxiety disorders.

This study was carried out in a Mental Health Unit in Spain (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid). Thirteen adult patients (age mean = 51.69 years, ranging from 33 to 69 years, S.D. = 11.56) with anxiety disorders completed the interventions. The group treatments were Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and a Mindfulness-based Emotional Regulation intervention, during 8 weeks, guided by two Clinical Psychology residents. Both interventions were carried out online. The dependent variable was the score on the TMT-B (seconds). A comparison of paired-means was conducted. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.

The normality assumption was met. Statistical power observed = 70.0%. The paired t-test showed statistically significant change between pre-treatment and post-treatment (p = 0.019; Cohen’s d = 0.75), indicating improvement on cognitive flexibility.

These results show a statistically significant and medium/large effect-size change in cognitive flexibility after the two online interventions based on mindfulness. A larger sample size is required to confirm these results. Moreover, other studies need to examine the reliable change on this neuropsychological outcome.

No significant relationships.

The relationship between attentional functioning and mindfulness is an intensive field of study, mainly in face-to-face interventions. However, no neuropsychological study addressed the effect of online mindfulness-based interventions on this cognitive function.

To assess changes on attentional functioning after two online mindfulness-based group interventions in adult patients with anxiety disorders.

This study was carried out in a Mental Health Unit in Spain (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid). Thirteen adult patients (age mean = 51.69 years, ranging from 33 to 69 years, S.D. = 11.56) with anxiety disorders completed the interventions. The group treatments were Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and a Mindfulness-based Emotional Regulation intervention, during 8 weeks, guided by two Clinical Psychology residents. Both interventions were carried out online. The dependent variables were the scores on the TMT-A (seconds), Digit span forward and Longest digit span forward (WAIS-IV). A comparison of paired-means was conducted. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.

The normality assumption was met except for Longest digit span forward. The paired t-test showed statistically significant change between pre-treatment and post-treatment on TMT-A [t(12)= 3.81; p = 0.002; Cohen’s d = 1.056; statistical power observed = 94.0%], but not on Digit span forward (p = .45). Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed no statistically significant change on Longest digit span forward (p = .56).

These results show a large improvement on visual attention and speed of visuomotor tracking, but not on auditive attention, after both online mindfulness-based group interventions.

No significant relationships.