Both mindfulness meditation and expectancy effects are known to reduce pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and pain catastrophizing, but it is unknown whether and how expectancy effects contribute to the overall effect of mindfulness meditation on these outcomes, especially during significant global events such as the coronavirus pandemic. This study includes four interrelated aims that will probe these effects and interactions.

As many as 1 in 4 Australians experience chronic pain. Further, it is yet unknown the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Australians with or at risk of chronic pain. There is a critical need for the development and evaluation of fast-acting non-pharmaceutical treatments that have the capacity to target the multidimensional nature of chronic pain. This study will investigate how mindfulness meditation and common expectancy effects interact and will further characterise the mechanisms underlying these effects. Results will ultimately lead to targeted interventions that more effectively engage cognitive mechanisms associated with pain attenuation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years of age
• Recurrent pain (two or more days in the last month)
• Chronic pain (pain most days in the last three months)
• Able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not experiencing recurrent or chronic pain
• Incomplete or invalid data (response time < 32 minutes, failing attention checks)
• Completing the 20-minute training module in < 18 minutes or > 90 minutes

All of the individual trial-related participant data collected during the trial, after de-identification.

Immediately following publication up and for a further 10 years .

Investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee. Initial contact should be directed to the contact person for scientific enquiries (Mr Jonathan Davies, jonathan.davies@uq.edu.au).

Note: Requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.