A comparison of decentering across demographic groups and meditation experience: Support for the measurement invariance of the Experiences Questionnaire

Online mindfulness training for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial using a multi-method assessment approach

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically accelerated the need for studies examining the effectiveness of programs to bolster psychological well-being, particularly for at-risk groups, such as older adults (OAs). Mindfulness Training (MT) has been suggested as a well-suited program for this purpose. The present study examined the impact of a 4-week online, trainer-led MT course tailored for OAs during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Fifty-three OAs were randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B. Group A received the online MT course during the 4-week interval between the first (T1) and second (T2) testing sessions, while Group B received the same MT course during the interval between T2 and the third testing session (T3). The testing sessions included measures of mindfulness, emotional well-being, psychological health, and cognitive performance. In addition, a very brief survey was sent every week during the T1-T2 and T2-T3 intervals to assess weekly emotional well-being.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that MT may improve some, albeit not all, aspects of mindfulness and well-being, while no significant results were noted for outcomes measuring psychological health and cognitive performance.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are discussed in the context of the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Validation of the factor structure of the Experiences Questionnaire using Exploratory Graph Analysis

Introduction

Decentering describes the ability to shift the focus away from one's subjective experience onto the experience itself. The Experiences Questionnaire (EQ) is a self-report measure that was developed to systematically assess changes in Decentering ability. Although several studies show the validity of the questionnaire, there are discrepancies between the factorial structure of the Decentering scale of the EQ (EQ-D) found in the initial study (one factor) and other studies (two factors). Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the dimensionality of the EQ-D using Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA).

Methods

In total, 1,100 participants were recruited online (790 female, 307 male, 3 non-binary; age 18 to 65 years). Participants completed the EQ and the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSES).

Results

The bootstrapped EGA results revealed a two-dimensional structure of the EQ-D (Factor 1: Distanced Perspective, DP; Factor 2: Accepting Self-perception, AS) with high structural and item stability (all items > 0.70). The two dimensions of the EQ-D showed a high internal consistency (DP: ω = 0.74; AS: ω = 0.86) and discriminant validity with the rumination items of the EQ. Furthermore, a high convergent validity of the EQ was established, as the AS factor exhibited a significantly stronger correlation with self-esteem than the DP factor (z = 7.98, p < 0.001), which aligns with theoretical considerations suggesting that the AS factor encompasses aspects of self-compassion alongside decentering. We also found measurement invariance of the DP and AS factor across age, gender and country but not for education.

Discussion

These results support the EQ's validity, demonstrated in a larger sample with a new methodology, aligning with existing two-factor decentering models literature.

Linkages between Psychedelics and Meditation in a Population-Based Sample in the United States

There are neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states, but there is little evidence on how exposure to psychedelics might be associated with meditation-related variables. We assessed lifetime classic psychedelic use, ego dissolution during one's most intense experience using a classic psychedelic, and exposure to meditation in a representative sample (n = 953) of American adults. Those who reported experience with meditation were invited to complete a follow-up survey (n = 536, 92.1% response rate) measuring meditation-related variables. Models controlled for a range of potential confounds. Exposure to meditation was associated with lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution in covariate-adjusted models. In addition, among meditators, greater ego dissolution was associated with more frequent meditation practice. Both lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution were associated with enlightenment as motivation to practice meditation as well as lower likelihood of overall perceived barriers to meditation practice. Ego dissolution was positively associated with finding meditation more effective. Neither lifetime classic psychedelic use nor ego dissolution was associated with greater likelihood of meditation-related adverse effects. Taken together, results support potential synergy between psychedelics and meditation, but randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish safety and evaluate potential causal relationships.

Mindfulness and Care Experience in Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia

Background

Greater mindfulness, the practice of awareness and living in the moment without judgement, has been linked to positive caregiving outcomes in dementia caregivers and its impact attributed to greater decentering and emotion regulation abilities. Whether the impact of these mindfulness-based processes varies across caregiver subgroups is unclear.

Objective

Analyze cross-sectional associations between mindfulness and caregiver psychosocial outcomes, considering different caregiver and patient characteristics.

Methods

A total of 128 family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders were assessed on several mindfulness measures (i.e., global; decentering, positive emotion regulation, negative emotion regulation) and provided self-reported appraisals of caregiving experience; care preparedness; confidence, burden, and depression/anxiety. Bivariate relationships between mindfulness and caregiver outcomes were assessed with Pearson's correlations and stratified by caregiver (women versus men; spouse versus adult child) and patient (mild cognitive impairment (MCI) versus Dementia; AD versus dementia with Lewy bodies; low versus high symptom severity) characteristics.

Results

Greater mindfulness was associated with positive outcomes and inversely associated with negative outcomes. Stratification identified specific patterns of associations across caregiver groups. Significant correlations were found between all mindfulness measures and caregiving outcomes in male and MCI caregivers while the individual mindfulness component of positive emotion regulation was significantly correlated to outcomes in most caregiver groups.

Conclusion

Our findings support a link between caregiver mindfulness and improved caregiving outcomes and suggest directions of inquiry into whether the effectiveness of dementia caregiver-support interventions may be improved by targeting specific mindfulness processes or offering a more inclusive all-scope approach depending on individual caregiver or patient characteristics.

Who Benefits Most? Interactions between Personality Traits and Outcomes of Four Incremental Meditation and Yoga Treatments

Mind–Body Medicine (MBM) includes a broad range of interventions with proven preventive and clinical value, such as yoga and meditation. However, people differ in their preferences and response to different MBM treatments and it remains unclear who benefits most from what type of practice. Thus, finding moderators of treatment outcome seems to be a promising approach. This was the aim of the present study. We conducted a single-case multiple-baseline study investigating the outcomes and moderators of four different MBM treatments. Fifty-seven healthy participants with no prior experience were randomly assigned to three baselines (7, 14, and 21 days) and four eight-week treatments: mantra meditation alone, meditation plus physical yoga, meditation plus ethical education and meditation plus yoga and ethical education. We analysed the data using effect size estimation, multiple regression and cluster analyses. High anxiety, high absorption, low spirituality, low openness and younger age were associated with a range of positive outcomes, such as increased wellbeing or decentering and decreased mind wandering. Receiving ethical education consistently improved wellbeing, while engaging in physical yoga reduced mind wandering. In the cluster analysis, we found that participants with a more maladaptive personality structure enhanced their emotion regulation skills more. Consequently, people do differ in their response to MBM interventions and more vulnerable people, or those high in absorption, seem to benefit more. These findings could support the development of custom-tailored MBM interventions and help clinicians to make scientifically sound recommendations for their patients.

Individual Differences in the Contents and Form of Present-Moment Awareness: The Multidimensional Awareness Scale

Decentering, a detached, observer perspective on one's mental activity, is an important concept for understanding mental health. Meta-awareness, people's awareness of their own current mental activity, is thought to facilitate decentering. However, trait measures of these concepts are not available or have validity concerns. We sought to create a theoretically derived measure of meta-awareness and decentering that allowed an exploration of questions in the literature regarding whether there are multiple forms of decentered awareness and whether meta-awareness and external awareness are distinct. Across six samples and 2,480 participants, we developed the 25-item Multidimensional Awareness Scale, with subscales assessing meta-awareness (present moment awareness of mental activity), decentered awareness (meta-awareness from a psychologically distant perspective), and external awareness (present moment awareness of the world outside of oneself). The scales demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. Results are discussed in terms of the conceptual implications of the scale structure and its potential uses.

Decentring as a moderator of the associations of anticipatory and post-event processing with social anxiety

Recent studies have shown that decentring protects against social anxiety, but no research to date has explored the way it interacts with cognitive risk factors for social anxiety. The present study aimed to examine decentring as a moderator of the association of anticipatory and post-event processing with social anxiety. An unselected student sample (N = 444) completed questionnaires assessing anticipatory/post-event processing, decentring, and social anxiety. The data were analysed with structural equation modelling and the latent moderated structural equations (LMS) method. Results supported the moderating role of decentring in the relationship of anticipatory processing and social anxiety, but did not find evidence of moderation for the association of post-event processing and social anxiety, after accounting for the role of anticipatory processing. Limitations and clinical implications for the protective effects of decentring on social anxiety are discussed.