A Brief, Digital Music-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Black Americans With Elevated Race-Based Anxiety and Little-to-No Meditation Experience ("healing attempt"): Replication and Extension Study

Abstract

Background: Race-based anxiety is a critical health issue within the Black community. Mindfulness interventions hold promise for treating race-based anxiety in Black Americans; however, there are many barriers that prevent Black Americans from using these treatments, such as low cultural relevance, significant time burdens, and excessive costs. Objective: This study is a replication and extension of findings that “healing attempt”-a brief (<60-minute), digital, music-based mindfulness intervention-is a feasible and acceptable intervention for race-based anxiety in Black Americans. In this study, we tested this research question among those with little-to-no meditation experience. Methods: The participants were 4 Black American adults with elevated race-based trait anxiety and little-to-no meditation experience. We used a series of multiple-baseline single-case experiments and conducted study visits on Zoom (Zoom Video Communications) to assess whether the intervention can decrease state anxiety and increase mindfulness and self-compassion in Black Americans. We also assessed feasibility and acceptability using quantitative and qualitative scales. Results: In line with our hypotheses, “healing attempt” increased mindfulness/self-compassion (Tau-U range: 0.57-0.86; P < .001) and decreased state anxiety (Tau-U range: -0.93 to -0.66; P < .001), with high feasibility and acceptability (the average likelihood of recommending “healing attempt” was 88 out of 100). Conclusions: “healing attempt” may represent a feasible intervention for race-based anxiety in Black Americans with elevated race-based anxiety and little or no mindfulness experience. Future between-subjects randomized feasibility trials can assess whether the intervention can give rise to lasting improvements in race-based anxiety, mindfulness, and self-compassion.