Modeling the mindfulness-to-meaning theory's mindful reappraisal hypothesis: Replication with longitudinal data from a randomized controlled study

App-based mindfulness training supported eudaimonic wellbeing during the COVID19 pandemic

A randomized-controlled-trial study (N = 219) tested two pre-registered hypotheses that mobile-phone app-based mindfulness training improves wellbeing and increases self-transcendent emotions: gratitude, self-compassion, and awe. Latent change score modeling with a robust maximum likelihood estimator was used to test how those changes are associated in the training versus the waiting-list group. The training increased wellbeing and all self-transcendent emotions regardless of interindividual variance in the changes across time. Changes in all self-transcendent emotions were positively associated with changes in wellbeing. The strength of those associations was comparable in the waiting-list group and the training group. More studies are needed to test whether the effects of mindfulness practice on wellbeing are driven by increases in self-transcendent emotions. The study was conducted over 6 weeks during the COVID19 pandemic. The results indicate that the mindfulness training can be an easily accessible effective intervention supporting eudaimonic wellbeing in face of adversity.

The shape of the change: Cumulative and incremental changes in daily mood during mobile-app-supported mindfulness training

Understanding of the exact trajectories of mood improvements during mindfulness practice helps to optimize mindfulness-based interventions. The Mindfulness-to-Meaning model expects mood improvements to be linear, incremental, and cumulative. Our findings align with this expectation. We used multilevel growth curve models to analyze daily changes in positive mood reported by 190 Polish participants during 42 days of a mobile-app-supported, mindfulness-based intervention. The daily positive mood increased among 83.68% of participants. Participants who started the training reported worse mood improved more and faster than participants with better mood at the baseline. Dispositional mindfulness and narcissism - individual difference variables associated with high vs. low emotion regulation ability, respectively - were not associated with mood improvement trajectories. A small group of participants (16.32%) showed a steady decline in positive mood during the intervention. The results underscore the importance of a more comprehensive understanding of individual variability in benefiting from mindfulness-based interventions.

Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males

Stress is an established risk factor for negative health outcomes. Salivary cortisol and testosterone concentrations increase in response to acute psychosocial stress. It's crucial to reduce stress for health and well-being through evidence-based interventions. Body-mind interventions such as meditation and Tai Chi have shown reduced cortisol levels but mixed results in testosterone concentration after stress. To address this research gap, we conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the modulating effects of a short-term (seven 20-minute sessions) mindfulness meditation on testosterone and cortisol in response to acute stress. Using one form of mindfulness meditation - Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) and an active control-relaxation training (RT), we assessed salivary cortisol and testosterone concentrations at three stages of stress intervention - rest, stress, and an additional 20-min IBMT or RT practice. We found increased cortisol and testosterone concentrations after acute stress in both groups, but testosterone rise was not associated with cortisol rise. Moreover, an additional practice immediately after stress produced higher testosterone concentrations in the IBMT group than the RT group, whereas cortisol concentration increased in the RT group than in the IBMT group at the same time point. These findings indicate that brief mindfulness intervention modulates a dual-hormone profile of testosterone and cortisol in response to acute stress presumably via the co-regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axes.

Coping with emotional dysregulation among young adults with ADHD: A mixed-method study of self-awareness and strategies in daily life

BACKGROUND

Emotional dysregulation (ED) impacts functional outcomes among individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Self-awareness and strategies may enhance coping with ED yet are rarely studied in ADHD.

OBJECTIVES

To explore ED-related self-awareness and strategies in daily life of adults with ADHD, and to examine the interrelations between them and their association with symptoms.

METHODS

Sixty young adults with ADHD participated in a mixed-method study. At baseline, self-awareness and strategies were assessed using the Self-Regulation Skills Interview (SRSI); ADHD symptoms were self-rated using the ASRS symptom checklist. Then, symptoms were rated over 5-days using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

RESULTS

Significant challenges in self-awareness and strategies were demonstrated quantitatively and qualitatively. Awareness of ED was associated with variability of ADHD symptoms on EMA yet not with symptom severity. Qualitative content analysis revealed a range of self-awareness levels, which were related to noticing ED-related cues and understanding contextual factors predictive of ED. Self-awareness and strategies were significantly associated. Strategies varied regarding effort, individual preference and temporality.

CONCLUSIONS

Variability of ADHD symptoms was negatively associated with self-awareness of ED. Strategy selection in daily-life among adults with ADHD may be affected by self-awareness and by a possible trade-off between short-term effort and long-term effectiveness.

Emotion regulation during encoding reduces negative and enhances neutral mnemonic discrimination in individuals with depressive symptoms

Individuals with depression exhibit dysfunctional emotion regulation, general episodic memory deficits, and a negativity bias, where negative experiences are better remembered. Recent work suggests that the negativity bias in depression may be driven by enhanced mnemonic discrimination, a memory measure that relies on hippocampal pattern separation - a computation that processes experiences with overlapping features as unique. Previously, we found that individuals with depressive symptoms show enhanced negative and impaired neutral mnemonic discrimination. The current study aimed to investigate emotion regulation as an approach toward modifying memory encoding of negative and neutral events in individuals with depressive symptoms. Here we show that applying psychological distancing (a cognitive reappraisal strategy characterized by taking a third-person perspective toward negative events) during encoding was associated with reduced negative and enhanced neutral mnemonic discrimination during retrieval in individuals with depressive symptoms. These results suggest that applying emotion regulation techniques during encoding may provide an effective approach toward altering dysfunctional memory in those with depressive symptoms. Given that pharmacological treatments often fail to treat depression, emotion regulation provides a powerful and practical approach toward modifying cognitive and emotional processes. Future neuroimaging studies will be important to determine how emotion regulation impacts the neural mechanisms underlying these findings.

Unpacking reappraisal: a systematic review of fMRI studies of distancing and reinterpretation

In recent decades, a substantial volume of work has examined the neural mechanisms of cognitive reappraisal. Distancing and reinterpretation are two frequently used tactics through which reappraisal can be implemented. Theoretical frameworks and prior evidence have suggested that the specific tactic through which one employs reappraisal entails differential neural and psychological mechanisms. Thus, we were motivated to assess the neural mechanisms of this distinction by examining the overlap and differentiation exhibited by the neural correlates of distancing (specifically via objective appraisal) and reinterpretation. We analyzed 32 published functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in healthy adults using multilevel kernel density analysis. Results showed that distancing relative to reinterpretation uniquely recruited right bilateral dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) and left posterior parietal cortex, previously associated with mentalizing, selective attention and working memory. Reinterpretation relative to distancing uniquely recruited left bilateral ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC), previously associated with response selection and inhibition. Further, distancing relative to reinterpretation was associated with greater prevalence of bilateral amygdala attenuation during reappraisal. Finally, a behavioral meta-analysis showed efficacy for both reappraisal tactics. These results are consistent with prior theoretical models for the functional neural architecture of reappraisal via distancing and reinterpretation and suggest potential future applications in region-of-interest specification and neural network analysis in studies focusing on specific reappraisal tactics.

Be more mindful: Targeting addictive responses by integrating mindfulness with cognitive bias modification or cue exposure interventions

This review provides an overview of the most prominent neurocognitive effects of cognitive bias modification (CBM), cue-exposure therapy and mindfulness interventions for targeting addictive responses. It highlights the key insights that have stemmed from cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging research and combines these with insights from behavioural science in building a conceptual model integrating mindfulness with response-focused CBM or cue-exposure interventions. This furthers our understanding of whether and how mindfulness strategies may i) facilitate or add to the induced response-focused effects decreasing cue-induced craving, and ii) further weaken the link between craving and addictive responses. Specifically, awareness/monitoring may facilitate, and decentering may add to, response-focused effects. Combined awareness acceptance strategies may also diminish the craving-addiction link. The conceptual model presented in this review provides a specific theoretical framework to deepen our understanding of how mindfulness strategies and CBM or cue-exposure interventions can be combined to greatest effect. This is important in both suggesting a roadmap for future research, and for the further development of clinical interventions.

Does acceptance lead to change? Training in radical acceptance improves implementation of cognitive reappraisal

Third-wave cognitive behavioral treatments such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) theorize that emotional acceptance facilitates cognitive change. However, empirical evidence to support this notion is scarce. This study assessed how a two-week online training in using acceptance or cognitive change DBT skills influences the implementation of these strategies in an emotion regulation task. During six training sessions, 120 healthy individuals recorded personal negative events. In a Radical Acceptance group, participants implemented a DBT skill aimed to promote acceptance of the negative events they described. In a Check the Facts group, participants reappraised their interpretations of the described events. A Control group described negative events but did not use any DBT skill. Results supported our preregistered hypotheses showing that following the training, participants who practiced Radical Acceptance improved in their ability to implement both emotional acceptance and cognitive reappraisal (cognitive change) in an emotion regulation task. In contrast, the Check the Facts group improved only in the ability to use cognitive reappraisal, but not emotional acceptance. The control group did not improve in either strategy. The findings provide empirical evidence to support the notion that cultivating acceptance can subsequently improve the ability to reinterpret reality for coping adaptively with negative events.

Network intervention analysis of anxiety-related outcomes and processes of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for anxious cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

Psychotherapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are thought to target multiple clinical outcomes by intervening on multiple mechanistic process variables. However, the standard mediation approach does not readily model the potentially complex associations among multiple processes and outcomes. The current study is one of the first to apply network intervention analysis to examine the putative change processes of a psychotherapy.

METHODS

Using data from a randomized trial of ACT versus minimally-enhanced usual care for anxious cancer survivors, we computed pre-to post-intervention (n = 113) residualized change scores on anxiety-related outcomes (general anxiety symptoms, cancer-related trauma symptoms, and fear of cancer recurrence) and putative processes of the intervention (experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and emotional approach coping). We estimated a network model with intervention condition and residualized change scores as nodes.

RESULTS

Contrary to the expectation that intervention effects would pass indirectly to outcomes via processes, network analysis indicated that two anxiety-related outcomes of the trial may have acted as primary mechanisms of the intervention on other outcome and process variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Network intervention analysis facilitated flexible evaluation of ACT's change processes, and offers a new way to test whether change occurs as theorized in psychotherapies.

Web-based training for post-secondary student well-being during the pandemic: a randomized trial

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a highly stressful period where post-secondary education moved to online formats. Coping skills like decentering and reappraisal appear to promote stress resilience, but limited research exists on cultivating these skills in online learning contexts.Methods: In a three-arm randomized trial design, we evaluated three-week, web-based interventions to gauge how to best cultivate mindfulness and stress-reappraisal skills and whether the proposed interventions led to improved mental health. Undergraduate participants (N = 183) were randomly assigned to stress mindset, mindfulness meditation, or mindfulness with choice conditions.Results: At the study level (baseline vs. post-intervention), decentering improved across all conditions. Mindfulness with choice significantly decreased negative affect and rumination compared to stress mindset, while stress mindset significantly enhanced stress mindset skills compared to both mindfulness groups. At the daily level (three sessions per week), stress mindset significantly increased positive affect compared to mindfulness meditation.Conclusions: Results suggest that student mental health can be remotely supported through brief web-based interventions. Mindfulness practices seem to be effective in improving students' negative mood and coping strategies, while stress mindset training can help students to adopt a stress-is-enhancing mindset. Additional work on refining and better matching students to appropriate interventions is needed.

The influence of socio-cognitive mindfulness and resilience on middle managers' stress and thriving during COVID-19: results from two studies

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of socio-cognitive mindfulness on resilience, stress and thriving among middle managers in higher education at two separate periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Study 1, the authors examined how socio-cognitive mindfulness predicted perceived stress and whether the relationship between mindfulness and perceived stress was mediated by resilience. In Study 2, the authors replicated the first study and further hypothesized that the link between mindfulness and thriving was also mediated by resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted cross-sectional correlational studies to test the hypotheses using data from 163 middle managers in higher education early in the pandemic in Study 1 and 204 middle managers a year later in Study 2.

Findings

Study 1 findings showed socio-cognitive mindfulness predicted perceived stress, and that resilience fully mediated this relationship. In Study 2, socio-cognitive mindfulness did not predict perceived stress, but it did predict thriving, and that relationship was fully mediated by resilience.

Originality/value

This research is the first to address how socio-cognitive mindfulness directly impacts perceived stress and thriving and its impact through building resilience. To date, few studies have focused on stress in higher education middle managers or addressed the importance of building socio-cognitive mindfulness and resilience to thrive amid ongoing challenges. Implications of the pandemic's influence on the results are also addressed.

The impact of mindfulness training on supportive communication, emotional intelligence, and human caring among nursing students

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to investigate the impact of mindfulness training on supportive communication and human caring ability among nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Sixty nursing students were randomly divided into the mindfulness group who accepted 8-week mindfulness training and the control group who attended two 2-h lectures about mindfulness in 8 weeks. All of them completed the Supporting Communication Scale (SCS), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), and Caring Ability Inventory (CAI) before training (T1), after it (T2), and at 3-month follow-up (T3).

FINDINGS

The mindfulness group showed higher scores on SCS, EIS, and CAI than the control group at both T2 and T3, and improvements in emotional intelligence partially mediated the training effects on supportive communication.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Mindfulness training could be applied to improve the abilities of communication and human caring during nursing education.

A common factors perspective on mindfulness-based interventions

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have entered mainstream Western culture in the past four decades. There are now dozens of MBIs with varying degrees of empirical support and a variety of mindfulness-specific psychological mechanisms have been proposed to account for the beneficial effects of MBIs. Although it has long been acknowledged that non-specific or common factors might contribute to MBI efficacy, relatively little empirical work has directly investigated these aspects. In this Perspective, I suggest that situating MBIs within the broader psychotherapy research literature and emphasizing the commonalities rather than differences between MBIs and other treatments might help guide future MBI research. To that end, I summarize the evidence for MBI efficacy and several MBI-specific psychological mechanisms, contextualize MBI findings within the broader psychotherapy literature from a common factors perspective, and propose suggestions for future research based on innovations and challenges occurring within psychotherapy research.

Psychological resources and flexibility predict resilient mental health trajectories during the French covid-19 lockdown

The implementation of lockdowns and the Covid-19 pandemic situation have negatively impacted mental health (anxiety, depression). However, little is known about individual differences in the longitudinal reactions to lockdown. We designed a longitudinal study (a) to identify the various trajectories of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population during and after lockdown; (b) to determine which positive psychological resources prevent individuals from falling into groups with the most severe trajectories; (c) to test the mediating role of psychological flexibility. We collected and analysed longitudinal data on a sample of French participants (N = 1399, M_age = 43.4; SD_age = 12; 87.8% women) during the end of the first lockdown. Participants were asked to report their psychological resources and (in)flexibility at baseline and symptoms of anxiety and depression at each measurment occasion (five weekly observations from 17 March to 11 May 2020, including baseline). Using growth mixture modelling, seven dynamic profiles of symptoms were identified: four for depression and three for anxiety. Resilience emerged as the most frequent trajectory. Wisdom, optimism, hope, self-efficacy and peaceful disengagement significantly prevented individuals from belonging to the symptomatic groups. Moreover, psychological flexibility emerged as a significant mediator of these effects. This study highlights the importance of cultivating protective factors and psychological flexibility to prevent mental health damage during potentially traumatic events (PTE) and to favour resilience trajectories.

Motivating Personal Growth by Seeking Discomfort

Achieving personal growth often requires experiencing discomfort. What if instead of tolerating discomfort (e.g., feeling awkward or uncomfortable), people actively sought it out? Because discomfort is usually experienced immediately and is easy to detect, we suggest that seeking discomfort as a signal of growth can increase motivation. Five experiments (total N = 2,163 adults) tested this prediction across various areas of personal growth: taking improvisation classes to increase self-confidence, engaging in expressive writing to process difficult emotions, becoming informed about the COVID-19 health crisis, opening oneself to opposing political viewpoints, and learning about gun violence. Across these areas of personal development, seeking discomfort as a signal of self-growth motivated engagement and increased perceived goal achievement relative to standard instructions. Consistent with our theorizing, results showed that these effects occurred only in areas of personal growth that cause immediate discomfort.

Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement improves negative emotion regulation among opioid-treated chronic pain patients by increasing interoceptive awareness

OBJECTIVE

Long-term opioid therapy presents health risks for people with chronic pain. Some chronic pain patients escalate their opioid dose to regulate negative emotions. Therefore, emotion regulatory strategies like reappraisal are key treatment targets for this population. Mindfulness has been shown to enhance reappraisal, but the mechanisms of action are unknown. This study was a secondary analysis of data from a randomized, controlled trial of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) to test a specific postulate of the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory: that mindfulness-based interventions promote reappraisal, via interoceptive self-regulation, as a means of decreasing emotional distress.

METHODS

Ninety-five patients with opioid-treated chronic pain (age = 56.8 ± 11.7, 66% female) were randomized to 8 weeks of MORE or Support Group (SG) psychotherapy. An interoceptive awareness latent variable was constructed from the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). Next, interoceptive self-regulation was assessed as a mediator of the effect of MORE on post-treatment reappraisal, and then reappraisal was examined as a mediator of change in distress through 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

MORE participants had greater improvements in interoceptive awareness than the SG as measured by the interoceptive awareness latent variable (β = 0.310, p = 0.008) and by the self-regulation MAIA subscale (β = 0.335, p = 0.001). The effect of MORE on treatment-induced increases in reappraisal was mediated by increased interoceptive self-regulation (indirect effect: β = 0.110, p = 0.030). In turn, decreases in distress through 3-month follow-up were mediated by increases in reappraisal (indirect: β = -0.136, p = 0.031).

CONCLUSION

MORE facilitated reappraisal of distress by enhancing interoceptive self-regulation, supporting a central mechanistic causal pathway specified by the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory.