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Mindfulness: A Proposed Operational Definition
... Mindfulness is practiced to achieve enduring happiness and to gain insight into the view of the true nature of existence 21,23 . Bishop et al. (2004) suggested a two-component model of mindfulness, where the first component is the regulation of attention, and the second component involves approaching one's experiences with an orientation of curiosity, openness, and acceptance 21,24 . The practice of MM encompasses focusing attention on the experience of thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, simply observing them as they arise and pass away resulting in body awareness, attention regulation, emotion regulation and change in perspective on the self 22 . ...
... Mindfulness is practiced to achieve enduring happiness and to gain insight into the view of the true nature of existence 21,23 . Bishop et al. (2004) suggested a two-component model of mindfulness, where the first component is the regulation of attention, and the second component involves approaching one's experiences with an orientation of curiosity, openness, and acceptance 21,24 . The practice of MM encompasses focusing attention on the experience of thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, simply observing them as they arise and pass away resulting in body awareness, attention regulation, emotion regulation and change in perspective on the self 22 . ...
... Each question is rated on a 4-point scale (not at all, somewhat, moderately so, very much so). The range of possible scores is between 20 and 80. STAI scores are commonly classified as "no or low anxiety" (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37), "moderate anxiety" (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44), and "high anxiety" . Subjective well-being was assessed (with the affect balance scale of a five-point answering scale ranging from 1 = ''low well-being'' to 5 = ''high well-being''). ...
Dental implant surgery is almost always associated with patient anxiety. Anxiety during dental surgical procedures triggers an increase in sympathetic activity. Mindfulness meditation (MM) is often associated with high levels of relaxation in the form of increased parasympathetic tone and decreased sympathetic activity. However, the effect of MM on dental anxiety is not clear. The current study aimed to show the effects of a MM as a sedative technique during dental implant surgery by examining the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), bispectral index (BIS), cortisol levels (CL), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) and saturation (SpO 2 ) parameters. HR, SBP, DBP, SpO 2 , BIS score and CLs were compared at the baseline, immediately before-, during-, and immediately after surgery between the test and control groups. We found that the MM resulted in significant decrease in BIS together with positive effects on hemodynamic parameters (decrease of HR, SBP, DBP and increase of SpO 2 ), psychological findings (improvement on STAI-S scores) and biochemical outcomes (decreased CL). In conclusion, the results demonstrate that MM appeared to be a reliable strategy for managing stress during dental implant operation with benefits in psychological, physiological and biochemical outcomes.
... Mindfulness is most commonly conceptualized as involving two key components: (1) intentional regulation of attention to and awareness of the present moment, and (2) nonjudgmental acceptance of the ongoing flow of sensations, thoughts, and/or emotional states (Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006;Bishop et al., 2004). Awareness is cultivated through intentional regulation of attention to present experience. ...
... experience. Notably, the literature is lacking consensus on an overarching theoretical framework for mindfulness, and by extension, a wellaccepted definition (Bishop et al., 2004). For purposes of this review, we refer to mindfulness according to this most common operational definition, which emphasizes the two factors of awareness and acceptance. ...
... 405). Inconsistencies also exist at the practice level with regard to how mindfulness is described and what components are emphasized (Bishop et al., 2004). Interwoven with efforts to define mindfulness are attempts to develop reliable and valid assessments (e.g., Baer et al., 2006). ...
How might a practice that has its roots in contemplative traditions, seeking heightened awareness through meditation, apply to trauma-related mental health struggles among military veterans? In recent years, clinicians and researchers have observed the increasing presence of mindfulness in Western mental health treatment programs. Mindfulness is about bringing an attitude of curiosity and compassion to present experience. This review addresses the above question in a detailed manner with an emphasis on the treatment of military veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related psychopathology. In addition, the integration of mindfulness with current empirically supported treatments for PTSD is discussed with specific attention to directions for future research in this area.
... In the study of Baer et al. (2003), they referred to the definitions of mindfulness in various academic circles and concluded a relatively complete statement, that is, what mindfulness describes is a kind of people who focus on their current activities. According to Bishop et al. (2004), the concept of mindfulness can be described in two aspects: (1) The characteristics of the state held in the control of attention, including external attitudes, acceptance of current activities, attention, etc.; (2 Focusing on and regulating the current experience, that is, using relevant technical means to pay attention to people's acquisition of new things. Cahn and Polich (2006) believe that mindfulness belongs to psychological traits or mental states, thus dividing mindfulness into two categories, and the classification of these two categories is based on the length of time it lasts in the human brain. ...
... The process is a way of acceptance and nonjudgment; Bishop and others believe that mindfulness describes a change in a psychological state, and people understand and master new things, and then adjust a series of changes in their self-state. According to Bishop et al. (2004), the concept of mindfulness can be described in two aspects: (1) The characteristics of the state held in the control of attention, including external attitudes, acceptance of current activities, attention, etc.; (2 Focusing on and regulating the current experience, that is, using relevant technical means to pay attention to people's acquisition of new things, new knowledge acceptance, experience acquisition process, and continuous attention to the views and experiences formed by people in this process. Cahn and Polich (2006) believe that mindfulness belongs to psychological traits or mental states, thus dividing mindfulness into two categories, and the classification of these two categories is based on the length of time it lasts in the human brain. ...
... It also affects the quality of learning, making one able to concentrate and focus on the learning content well. Which similar research results to Bishop et al. (2004), the concept of mindfulness can be described in two aspects: (1) The characteristics of the state held in the control of attention, including external attitudes, acceptance of current activities, attention, etc.; (2) Focusing on and regulating the current experience, that is, using relevant technical means to pay attention to people's acquisition of new things, new knowledge acceptance, experience acquisition process, and continuous attention to the views and experiences formed by people in this process. ...
Background and Aim: In recent years, table tennis has developed rapidly throughout the country and abroad. At present, primary school students are in an important stage of physical and mental development while paying more attention to the development of physical and mental health. However, there are fewer studies on mindfulness training for primary school students. This study aimed to develop a mindfulness training model to improve table tennis skills for primary school students in Guangzhou city. Materials and Methods: This study is a research and development type. The researcher divided the boundaries of the sample group into 3 groups as follows 1. Teachers of table tennis in primary schools in Guangzhou City, a total of 196 teachers. 2. 19 experts, consisting of 10 table tennis coaches, 4 primary school table tennis teachers, and experts. In the area of meditation, there were 5 people selected from a specific selection. 3. 7 experts in the development of meditation training models towards the development of table tennis skills at the primary school level. Using mixed methods research there are qualitative research methods and quantitatively divided into 3 phases: Phase 1: Assessment of the table tennis learning conditions of elementary school students in Guangzhou; Phase 2: Develop a meditation training model and table tennis skill development. at the primary level With the Delphi technique; Phase 3: meeting with experts to confirm and certify. Results: 1. The results of the evaluation of meditation, mindfulness, and table tennis skills training found that (1) It increases concentration in studying. (2) Table tennis skill training promotes concentration. (3) Helps promote and Practice movement skills. (4) Instructors must have high-level table tennis teaching skills respectively. 2. It was found that in the area of meditation and mindfulness training practicing Qigong consists of activities to practice Qigong to strengthen mindfulness and concentration in 4 poses of meditation practice and breathing practice that include: Breath adjustment poses, Chest stretching pose, Tha Inika Soaring Sky pose and Shankaya breath pose. Most had consistent opinions on all items (interquartile range 0.00 - 0.50). Conclusion: Developing a meditation practice style combined with table tennis skills. It's extremely good because of the practice of Qigong it is the basic culture of China that has a history of over 1000 years. A model for applying mindfulness and concentration in table tennis. It gives Chinese athletes their own identity, especially at the youth level. The use of Qigong, which is a practice of body, mind, concentration, and breath, is admirable to be able to combine concepts and approaches so perfectly. Experts have further presented that the development of this model will help promote Confidence for athletes.
... The final version may present slight differences in relation to the present version. This critical time of difficult assimilation and transition was particularly difficult for certain populations who were even more vulnerable to the consequences of COVID- 19. These populations are the ones that were already at a higher risk for mental illness due to several risk factors that have been documented in the literature for serious mental health outcomes, including suicide 7 . ...
... and even social and ethical dimensions 18 . Conscious attention and perception are actively cultivated and can be developed through the systematic habit of meditation 19 . ...
... Mindfulness comprises two key components: cognitive processes focused on actively managing one's immediate experience, and emotional processes involving the cultivation of a curious, open, and accepting stance towards present-moment sensations 19 . The practice of mindfulness meditation and other forms of meditation is gaining popularity, with an increasing number of individuals incorporating them into their lives to achieve diverse outcomes 20,21 . ...
... (p. 47) Derived from Buddhist roots, mindfulness is achieved though the practice of employing meditation as a mechanism pivotal to enhanced awareness and acceptance of the present moment (Bishop, 2004). The Buddhist belief is that in order to become enlightened one must have wisdom to recognize that there is suffering; there is a cause of suffering; and there is an end to suffering. ...
... This lack of a clear definition of mindfulness and consistency across studies has been detrimental to completing scientific research that is efficacious and validated. Bishop (2004) suggested that failure to have a consistent working definition of mindfulness negates the credibility of investigations and hampers the development of measurable tools. Thus, several researchers have worked to develop an operational definition of mindfulness. ...
... Thus, several researchers have worked to develop an operational definition of mindfulness. For example, Bishop (2004) suggested the following operational definition of mindfulness: ...
Relaxation therapy techniques and mindfulness meditation are clinical intervention tools that have demonstrated benefits associated with the reduction of negative psychological states and the enhancement of positive states of mind critical to the alleviation of physical and emotional distress (Jain et al., 2007). Many mind-body therapeutic training workshops are offered in a one-day format; however, there is a gap in the literature examining the direct impact of learning relaxation therapy and mindfulness meditation specific to nephrology social work practitioners, and how, if at all, learning these techniques might assist a practitioner in his/her work. A study was undertaken to examine the influence of a one-day relaxation therapy and mindfulness meditation educational workshop on nephrology social workers’ professional practice. Eight members of the Canadian Association of Nephrology Social Workers with limited previous exposure to mind-body therapeutic approaches participated in this project. Telephone and Skype participant interviews occurred following the workshop on three separate occasions over a period of four months. The key findings from this study suggest that 1) the workshop had an impact on professional practice, 2) the workshop had an impact on self-care, and 3) amid obstacles to implementation, nephrology social workers expressed their desire to expand their current scope of practice to include relaxation therapy techniques and mindfulness meditation with their clients.
... O mindfulness define-se como o estado de consciência que surge quando prestamos atenção, com propósito e sem julgamento, ao momento presente (Bishop et al., 2004;Kabat-Zinn, 1994) referindo-se, por isso, a "um processo ativo de observação e presença em cada momento da vida. Significa estar no mundo com abertura, recetividade e curiosidade" (Rodrigues & Serrão, 2021, p.69). ...
... Significa estar no mundo com abertura, recetividade e curiosidade" (Rodrigues & Serrão, 2021, p.69). Tem sido proposto que o mindfulness constitui, por um lado, uma característica iminentemente humana (traço), intimamente ligada à atenção e à consciência (Bishop et al., 2004). Desta perspetiva, o traço mindful pode ser melhorado e/ou intensificado através de várias práticas (e.g., meditação), promovendo um aumento do bem-estar subjetivo, assim como maior capacidade de auto-regulação (Brown & Ryan, 2003). ...
RESUMO As Intervenções Baseadas em Mindfulness (IBMs) têm sido largamente associadas ao tratamento de perturbações mentais e físicas e à promoção do bem-estar geral em populações não-clínicas. Todavia, a ação dos mecanismos subjacentes a estas intervenções permanece pouco clara. Recentemente, a análise de redes psicopatológicas complexas tem vindo a explorar as interações entre os sintomas das perturbações mentais e entre os sintomas e diversos processos cognitivos associados ao desenvolvimento dessas perturbações. Este estudo procurou clarificar as interações entre os diferentes mecanismos de mindfulness e sintomas depressivos. Foi reanalisada uma amostra (N = 151) de um estudo realizado na Holanda relativo à eficácia da Terapia Cognitiva Baseada em Mindfulness (MBCT) para adultos com sintomatologia depressiva. Os resultados sugerem que as competências atuar com consciência, não julgar e não reagir parecem ter maior relevância no tratamento da sintomatologia depressiva, dado que contribuem para a diminuição sintomática e para a relação dinâmica que explica a eficácia demonstrada das IBMs. Este estudo permitiu ainda identificar a especificidade da ação dos diferentes mecanismos sobre os sintomas e sublinhou que, em algumas circunstâncias, alguns mecanismos (e.g., observar, descrever) poderão estar associados a um aumento sintomático. Em geral, estes resultados sugerem que a eficácia das IBMs é melhor explicada pela relação dinâmica entre os mecanismos. Palavras-chave: Especificidade de interações; Mecanismos de mindfulness; Sintomas depressivos; Análise de redes. ABSTRACT Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been widely associated with treating mental and physical disorders and promoting general well-being in non-clinical settings. However, the action of the mechanisms underlying these interventions remains unclear. Recently, the analysis of complex psychopathological networks has explored the relationship between symptoms of mental disorders and between symptoms and various cognitive processes associated with the development of these disorders. This study sought to clarify the relationship between different mindfulness mechanisms and depressive symptoms. A sample (N =151) from a study conducted in the Netherlands on the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for adults with depressive symptoms was reanalyzed. The results suggest that the mechanisms of acting with awareness, non-judging and 1 Endereço de contacto: arrodrigues@umaia.pt
... Mindfulness (based on a Buddhist practice) is often described using Kabat-Zinn's definition that "mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally" ( [24], p. 145), with two key components operationally defined as self-regulation of attention and an orientation of curiosity, openness, and acceptance [25]. Mindfulness and nature have a historic connection dating back thousands of years. ...
... An examination of correlations revealed significant relationships between age and all measures, with younger adults (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) showing lower scores on scales measuring beneficial factors (e.g., FFMQ, CNS, MLQ), and higher on negative scales measuring detrimental factors (e.g., PSS). One-way ANOVAs revealed a significant effect of gender on the CNS, with females reporting higher scores than males, and there were significant effects of the participants' environment, with participants in rural environments reporting less negative scores (PSS) than suburban participants. ...
Relationships between nature connection, mindfulness and wellbeing have been observed through nature based therapeutic interventions, where mindfulness and nature appear to reciprocally influence each other in relation to wellbeing and is potentially consistent with attention restoration theory. However, previous studies have relied on examining nature based interventions rather than the role of nature connection in everyday lives. This investigation explored the relationship between nature connection, mindfulness, and wellbeing within a general population sample in Auckland, New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 472) completed a survey questionnaire measuring nature connectedness (CNS), hedonic and eudemonic wellbeing (PANAS and MLQ), stress (PSS), and mindfulness (FFMQ). Given mindfulness consists of interrelated practices and the relationship between mindfulness and nature connection is thought to be reciprocal, an EBIC GLASSO network was constructed to investigate the pathways between nature connection, mindfulness, and wellbeing. The FFMQ subscale of Observing was central to the network in terms of closeness and betweenness and had a strong correlation with CNS where it bridged CNS and wellbeing scales. This study demonstrates that individuals in their daily lives show relationships between nature connection, mindfulness, and wellbeing, and indicates that the
... Mindfulness has been viewed as a skill that can be learned and developed through instruction and practice (Bishop et al., 2004), as evidenced by the great number of programs and interventions that have been developed to help people live more mindfully. This view primarily conceptualizes mindfulness as a state, such that a person is trained to achieve a mindful state with practice and focused attention. ...
... One relationship at the facet level suggested a pathway from within-subject mindfulness to increases in withinsubject positive affect, namely acting with awareness positively and robustly predicted PA three months later. Other studies-concurrent, daily diary, and experimental-have supported this particular relationship (e.g., Brown & Ryan, 2003;Garland, Farb et al., 2015;Garland, Geschwind et al., 2015), but our longitudinal dataset analysed with the RI-CLPM approach suggests that the only FFMQ facet to predict positive affect is acting with awareness, a dynamic often construed to be the core feature of mindfulness (Bishop et al., 2004). emotion regulation strategies, gratitude, and hope, but further research is needed to better understand the origins of this human capacity. ...
Although cross-sectional and daily diary studies have noted associations among trait mindfulness and positive and negative affect, lacking are studies that longitudinally examine these relationships over a period of months. We tested whether trait mindfulness (assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Measure) predicted an increase in positive affect and a decrease in negative affect across 3 months. A sample of 319 community adults completed self-report measures of mindfulness, positive affect, and negative affect at three times of measurement separated by three months each. As hypothesised, overall mindfulness, tested with a random intercepts cross-lag path model, predicted over three months a decrease in negative affect, but, contrary to predictions, did not predict an increase in positive affect. In the reverse direction, within-subject negative affect predicted decreases of overall within-subject mindfulness, which suggests that this relationship may be reciprocal over time. When examined at the facet level of mindfulness, all five within-subject facets of the FFMQ predicted reductions in within-subject negative affect over time. In return, within-subject negative affect predicted reductions in three within-subject mindfulness facets: non-reacting, acting with awareness, and describing. On balance, the results of this study suggest that trait mindfulness, as assessed with the FFMQ, was much more successful in predicting diminished negative affect than in predicting a boost in positive affect. Further, the presence of negative affect seems to exert an inhibiting influence over time on the implementation of several mindfulness facets.
... Barlow also believes that anxiety arises due to selective attention to sexual performance and the lack of attention to appropriate sexual stimuli. As a result, by creating a dysfunctional cycle, sexual problems lead to an increase in patterns, beliefs, and negative sexual expectations, ultimately leading to a sense of hopelessness and dissatisfaction with sexual activity [12]. ...
The aim of this research is to compare the effectiveness of sex therapy using cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and integrative approaches on sexual satisfaction and sexual desire in married women with sexual dissatisfaction. This study is a semi-experimental research with a pre-test and post-test design, classified as applied research in terms of its purpose. Data were collected through a survey using a validated questionnaire. The research population included all married women with sexual dissatisfaction who had sought counseling and psychological services through advertisements on the Divar website and social media networks and were selected through convenient sampling. After initial interviews and entry criteria assessment, which included being married, experiencing sexual dysfunction for at least six months, and being married for at least one year, a total of 40 participants were randomly divided into four groups (cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, integrative, and control groups). The research instruments included the Sexual Desire Questionnaire (Apt & Halbert, 1992) with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82 and the Hudson Index of Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (ISS) (1981) with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87. Forty-five individuals volunteered to participate in the study, of which 42 attended in-person based on the advertisements, and 40 were selected based on entry and exit criteria. They were randomly assigned to four 10-member groups (cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, integrative, and control groups). Subsequently, each experimental group received six 120-minute group therapy sessions. Initially, before any intervention, individuals received necessary explanations about the research objectives, and informed consent was obtained. In the first phase, a pre-test was administered before the intervention, and then the experimental groups underwent their respective interventions, with the first group receiving eight cognitive-behavioral sessions and the second group receiving six mindfulness-based sessions. After a 30-day interval following the interventions, a post-test was administered to all groups. For hypothesis testing, analysis of variance and post hoc tests were used. The results indicate that there are significant differences (p < 0.05) in sexual satisfaction and sexual desire among married women with sexual dissatisfaction in the integrative, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness-based groups compared to the control group, with the integrative group showing the highest improvement. However, there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) in sexual satisfaction and sexual desire between the mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral groups. Therefore, sex therapy in the treatment of generalized sexual dysfunction in sexual relationships, as well as reducing sexual dissatisfaction and increasing sexual desire and intimacy, is beneficial. Based on the findings of this research, psychologists and counselors working in the field of family therapy can use practical guidelines to intervene in situations arising from sexual dissatisfaction as a supportive treatment.
... Mindfulness training has only recently been evaluated in the treatment of addictions Brewer et al., 2009;Zgierska et al., 2008), and more specifically smoking (Cropley, Ussher, & Charitou, 2007;Davis, Fleming, Bonus, & Baker, 2007). It has been operationalized to include two distinct components: (1) maintaining attention on the immediate experience and (2) maintaining an attitude of acceptance toward this experience (Bishop et al., 2004). These may even be viewed as "two sides of the same coin" because when attention becomes predominant, self-referential processing (and thus judging or nonacceptance) drops away; "bare" awareness or attention is by definition free from judgment (Satipatthana Sutta: Frames of Reference ͓MN 10͔, 2010). ...
Humans suffer heavily from substance use disorders and other addictions. Despite much effort that has been put into understanding the mechanisms of the addictive process, treatment strategies have remained suboptimal over the past several decades. Mindfulness training, which is based on ancient Buddhist models of human suffering, has recently shown preliminary efficacy in treating addictions. These early models show remarkable similarity to current models of the addictive process, especially in their overlap with operant conditioning (positive and negative reinforcement). Further, they may provide explanatory power for the mechanisms of mindfulness training, including its effects on core addictive elements, such as craving, and the underlying neurobiological processes that may be active therein. In this review, using smoking as an example, we will highlight similarities between ancient and modern views of the addictive process, review studies of mindfulness training for addictions and their effects on craving and other components of this process, and discuss recent neuroimaging findings that may inform our understanding of the neural mechanisms of mindfulness training.
... [33] Mindfulness Mindfulness can be defined as "an openhearted, moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness" or maintenance of the attention to the present moment. [34] By practicing mindfulness, one can pay attention to one's self and surroundings nonjudgmentally and with purpose, leading to happiness, self-awareness, inner calm, and self-respect. [35] Many researchers have applied mindfulness as a treatment modality for behavioral addictions, such as pathological gambling, workaholics, and Internet addiction. ...
... This provides convergent evidence for the effect of MBIs on these regions. By being aware of their experiences with an open and non-judgmental attitude, MBI participants might develop a different relationship with stressful experiences or sensations [36], including concern or worry about cognitive failures or performance, potentially leading to an increased capacity to focus on the working memory task. ...
Purpose
Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been associated with altered brain activation after chemotherapy in areas related to working memory. Hence, improving working memory capacity and associated brain activation might aid in the recovery of CRCI. In this study, we investigated the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to impact working memory-related brain activation.
Methods
Female breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive complaints (N=117) were randomized into a mindfulness (n=43; MBI), physical training (n=36; PT), or waitlist control condition (n=38; WL). Participants completed MRI scans before the intervention, immediately after, and three months post-intervention. Task-based functional MRI was used to measure differences between groups over time in working memory-related brain activation while performing a visual-verbal n-back task.
Results
Data of 83 participants (32/26/25 MBI/PT/WL) was included. Compared to the waitlist group, MBI participants showed reduced task-related activation in the right middle frontal and angular gyrus and increased activation in the right dorsal posterior cingulate cortex over time. Compared to the physical training group, MBI participants showed reduced brain activation in the bilateral superior parietal lobule and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex over time. No differences between physical training and no intervention were identified.
Conclusion
This study showed that an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention can significantly alter brain activation across brain regions involved in working memory, attentional control, and emotion processing during performance of a working memory task. This might aid in the recovery of CRCI.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Mindfulness might alter brain activation patterns while performing a working memory task, which might ultimately aid in restoring higher order cognitive functions.
... www.nature.com/scientificreports/ 1 SD was not provided and if range was provided, the range rule, whereby the SD of the sample is approximately 1/4th the range of the data, is used to estimate it. 2 Authors combined the ACG that did a colouring task with the PCG because of high dropout rates. 3 This was assumed from the study's methods as it was not explicitly stated. ...
Mindfulness has become increasingly popular and the practice presents in many different forms. Research has been growing extensively with benefits shown across various outcomes. However, there is a lack of consensus over the efficacy of randomized controlled mindfulness interventions, both traditional and mind–body formats. This study aimed to investigate the structural brain changes in mindfulness-based interventions through a meta-analysis. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched up to April 2023. 11 studies (n = 581) assessing whole-brain voxel-based grey matter or cortical thickness changes after a mindfulness RCT were included. Anatomical likelihood estimation was used to carry out voxel-based meta-analysis with leave-one-out sensitivity analysis and behavioural analysis as follow-ups. One significant cluster ( p < 0.001, Z = 4.76, cluster size = 632 mm ³ ) emerged in the right insula and precentral gyrus region (MNI = 48, 10, 4) for structural volume increases in intervention group compared to controls. Behavioural analysis revealed that the cluster was associated with mental processes of attention and somesthesis (pain). Mindfulness interventions have the ability to affect neural plasticity in areas associated with better pain modulation and increased sustained attention. This further cements the long-term benefits and neuropsychological basis of mindfulness-based interventions.
... Mindfulness can be defined as a state of consciousness in which a person is fully focused on their experience of the present moment with non-judgmental curiosity and an open attitude [5,6]. Trait mindfulness or dispositional mindfulness describes a predisposition to be mindful in everyday life, and state mindfulness is attained during mindfulness meditation practice [7,8]. ...
Abstract
Background
High-quality evidence is still required to affirm the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in craving reduction. MBIs may be particularly appropriate for this purpose given the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction with automatic behavior in response to the negative affect. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to study the efficacy of MBIs in craving reduction and to synthetize the newly published data.
Methods
We searched four databases and three clinical trial registries for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to August 2023, including studies with MBIs in all types of substance use disorders or behavioral addictions. We chose as our outcome of interest the change from the baseline of craving measures at posttreatment. Standardized mean difference was used as an effect size estimator.
Results
We included 17 RCTs with 1228 participants. The overall effect size was estimated at -0.70 (95% CI -1.15, -0.26) in favor of MBIs.
Conclusion
Due to the high inconsistency (I2 = 92%), we were unable to conclude that there is a medium to large effect size. Overall risk of bias was high for most studies, and the GRADE approach detected a low quality of evidence. Previous clinical and fundamental research suggest that MBIs have a promising potential in addiction medicine. However, further investigation of whether MBIs effectively reduce craving is needed, and innovative solutions for resolving methodological limitations in MBI research are warranted.
Trial registration
PROSPERO registration ID CRD42020221141.
... Since DM plays a regulatory role in promoting positive outcomes and limiting negative ones in physical and mental health (Brown et al., 2007;Jimenez et al., 2010;Ma & Siu, 2020), there has been a marked rise in interest in investigating the associations between DM and mental health-related issues (such as anxiety and depression) in the past several decades (Dhawan et al., 2021;Keng et al., 2011). Individuals with higher DM tend to pay attention to the present experience in an unbiased, non-distorted manner, which prevents individuals from excessively attending to negative life experiences and emotions (Bishop et al., 2004;Brown & Ryan, 2004). Moreover, studies of mindfulness exercises suggest that high levels of DM can help individuals to stop cycles of either depressive or anxious feelings and thoughts (Elices et al., 2022). ...
Conscientiousness and dispositional mindfulness (DM) are two significant predictors of anxiety and depression in adolescents. However, little is known about whether there are bidirectional relations between any two of the three variables and whether DM mediates the longitudinal relations between conscientiousness and anxiety and depression in adolescents. The present study was conducted to address this issue using a two-wave longitudinal design. A total of 1191 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.35 years at T1; 53.7% girls) completed the measures at two time points (approximately one and a half years interval). Results of the cross-lagged panel model showed that changes in conscientiousness predicted changes in DM over time, but the inverse predictions did not hold. There were no reciprocal relations between conscientiousness and anxiety or depression. However, there were reciprocal relations between DM and anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the longitudinal mediation model results revealed that DM fully mediated the longitudinal relations between conscientiousness and anxiety and depression. The present research identifies directional relations between conscientiousness and DM and their longitudinal associations with anxiety and depression. These findings provide new insights into prevention and intervention for mental health problems in adolescents.
... ASMR content, with its repetitive soft sounds and soothing visuals, can serve as a tool to modulate sensory input and create a calming and pleasurable environment (Harrison et al., 2019). People who actively use ASMR for sensory regulation may find it helpful in managing stress, anxiety, and staying mindful (Bishop et al., 2004;Brotto, Basson, Carlson, and Zhu, 2013). For some individuals, engaging with ASMR content becomes a self-soothing practice or part of their selfcare routine, aiding in the regulation of their emotional and sensory states. ...
Despite the emergence of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) as a marketing tool, limited research has explored its effectiveness. This study uses in-depth interviews and social media text mining to examine college-aged consumers’ experiences, uses, and interpretations of ASMR content and advertising. Regarding ASMR content, themes that emerged include sensations described as weird at first but later “tingles,” relaxation, stress and anxiety management, use as a sleep-aid tool, and experiences enhanced with earphones. For ASMR advertising, themes encompass attention-grabbing, product-centered approaches; targeting young people; and friendly, soft-speaking voices. Sentiment analysis of 7,724 YouTube comments on IKEA’s ASMR campaign revealed that 24 percent of the total comments were categorized as positive.
... Due to their practical and secular nature, the definitions adopted in the design field are primarily drawn from therapeutic practices (defined above) (Kabat-Zinn, 1994 and psychological concepts. This last category distinguishes between three main definitions: 1) an operationalized definition that focuses on selfregulation and orientation of experience (Bishop et al., 2004); 2) a definition that contemplates mindfulness traits and states of awareness and perception that can be reached (Brown & Ryan, 2003); and 3) a cognitive definition that links mindfulness with creativity as an active process of searching for novelty and as the opposite of automatic modes of thinking (mindlessness) (Langer, 1989(Langer, , 2000. ...
Mindfulness has become a phenomenon of interest in the design research community due to itspositive effects on a broad range of human qualities and experiences relevant to the field. However,research intersecting mindfulness and design education is still in its early stages, leaving unansweredquestions about the nature of this relationship and its potential integration into design education. Weaddressed this gap through a theory-based analysis of relevant literature. First, we synthesize thetransferable applications of mindfulness into design educational practices within a four-dimensionalframework: 1) mindfulness-based pedagogical tools; 2) enhanced reflective practices; 3) enhancedcreative experiences; and 4) cultivating design competencies. Next, critically reflecting on theframework, we discuss implications and opportunities for further research. This manuscript aims tosupport the development of practice-based methods and tools in the design pedagogy field and toassist researchers in navigating and developing this promising research path.
... Finding of the present study are consistent with the previous studies. [22][23][24][25] In the present study participants were asked to report their experience of the intervention. Majority of the participants reported that they found the intervention very helpful while coping with pain but after the audio completes they would experience the pain again. ...
... Participating in volunteer work can improve the mental health of older adults (13). Participants can stay connected to others and be productive during these activities; this helps them avoid illness and disability (5,17) and obtain psychological and social benefits (40). This study demonstrates that the successful aging rate of those who perceive good health is higher than that of those who perceive normal health. ...
Background
The pursuit of successful aging is currently the most important research and policy issue in an aging society. Participating in voluntary services can help middle-aged and older adults recognize the positive value and benefits of social participation, feel a sense of happiness and accomplishment, and improve their overall life satisfaction, which can also contribute to successful aging. This study wants to understand whether the participation motivation and expectation confirmation of middle-aged and older adult volunteering will affect their continuous participation behavior and successful aging because of the satisfaction of actual participation?
Objective
This study explores the factors related to middle-aged and older adult volunteering participation and their impact on successful aging.
Methods
Middle-aged and older adult volunteering from the East Taiwan Community Development Association and community care centers were taken as the research objects. Convenience sampling was used to select volunteers who were over 45 years old (inclusive) and have participated in voluntary services over five (inclusive) times in the last 6 months. Respondents completed the questionnaire through self-completion or face-to-face interviews with the interviewer. The measurement tools include engagement motivation, expectation validation, satisfaction, ongoing engagement, and successful aging.
Results
A total of 536 questionnaires were distributed of which 498 were valid and 38 invalid. The questionnaire recovery rate was 92.91%. Statistical findings include: (1) Those who perceived that their health was good had a better successful aging status than those who perceived that their health was normal. (2) The volunteering participation motivation and expectation confirmation of middle-aged and older adults significantly affected their volunteer participation satisfaction. (3) Participation motivation and expectation confirmation predicted 50.8% of satisfaction. (4) Satisfaction predicted 47.1% of continuous participation. (5) Continuous participation and satisfaction had a predictive power of 65.1% for successful aging.
Conclusion
This study confirms that the motivation and expectation of middle-aged and older adult to participate in volunteering will affect their continuous participation behavior and successful aging status through satisfaction. The research results can be used as a reference for the practical work plan of volunteering.
... First, techniques of cognitive restructuring enable individuals to recognize their negative beliefs about themselves in social interactions as dysfunctional and unrealistic and to replace them with more adaptive beliefs (Clark, 2014). Additionally, mindfulness training aims to enhance one's ability to observe the contents of the present experience without judging or interpreting it (Bishop et al., 2004;Kabat-Zinn, 2013). In this process, a person may learn to re-perceive their thoughts and emotions more clearly and objectively as passing mental states rather than accurate reflection of reality (Kabat-Zinn, 2013;Shapiro et al., 2006). ...
Objectives
Cognitive behavioral and mindfulness interventions have been shown to promote well-being in individuals with chronic illness. However, the underlying psychological processes through which these interventions impact well-being are not fully explored. This secondary analysis study aimed to examine the role of perceived social support, interpersonal sensitivity, and perceived stress as mediators of the positive effect of individualized online Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness Intervention (COBMINDEX) on life satisfaction among patients with Crohn’s disease (CD).
Method
Patients with mild or moderately active disease (n=142) were randomly assigned to either COBMINDEX intervention or treatment-as-usual control group. After a period of 3 months, the control group also received the COBMINDEX intervention. Complete data were collected from 120 patients (COBMINDEX=60, TAU=60). Analysis of covariance assessed group differences in post-intervention scores, controlling for baseline scores. Multiple parallel mediation analysis assessed the proposed mechanisms for the entire sample.
Results
Individuals in the COBMINDEX condition reported significantly lower levels of perceived stress (F=28.06, p<0.01) and interpersonal sensitivity (F=12.78, p<0.01) than those in the control condition. The COBMINDEX group also had significantly higher levels of life satisfaction (F=9.79, p<0.01) compared to the control group. Perceived social support did not differ across groups (F=2.73, p=0.10). Analysis of indirect effects revealed significant effects of perceived stress (b=0.52, 95% CI [0.16, 1.03]) and interpersonal sensitivity (b=0.73, 95% CI [0.31, 1.35]); thus, the positive effect of COBMINDEX on life satisfaction was mediated by changes in interpersonal sensitivity and perceived stress.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of targeting mental processes such as interpersonal sensitivity to enhance patients’ life satisfaction. These findings suggest that practitioners might consider COBMINDEX as an adjunct intervention for patients with CD.
Preregistration
The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05085925) and with the Ministry of Health in Israel (https://my.health.gov.il/CliniTrials/Pages/MOH_2020-02-24_008721.aspx ).
... Although some researchers concentrate almost entirely on the attentional aspects of mindfulness (Brown & Ryan, 2003), most adhere to the model introduced by Bishop et al. (2004), which proposes that mindfulness consists of two components: self-regulation of attention and adoption of a specific orientation toward one's experiences. Nonelaborative observation and awareness of sensations, thoughts, or feelings from moment to moment are referred to as self-regulation of attention. ...
This chapter explores the relationship between positive psychological capacities and authentic leadership. Research indicates that leaders with high levels of optimism, resilience, and emotional intelligence are more likely to exhibit authentic leadership behaviors and achieve better performance and well-being outcomes for themselves and their teams. The integration of mindfulness and positive psychology concepts further supports the development of self-awareness, values alignment, and effective relational dynamics in authentic leadership. Ongoing research and debates regarding the definitions and measurements of mindfulness and authentic leadership are addressed.
This chapter also looks at the relationship between resilience and authentic leadership, examining the role of psychological factors such as emotional intelligence and mindfulness in supporting authentic leadership behaviors. Research suggests that resilient leaders who possess high levels of emotional intelligence and practice mindfulness are better equipped to navigate challenges and crises effectively, leading to increased organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. The integration of positive psychology concepts further enhances the understanding of how psychological factors contribute to the development and sustenance of authentic leadership.
Case studies share the experiences of Laurena, an ambitious entrepreneur, and Andrew Fitch, a young professional in the restaurant industry, as they navigate their journeys toward authentic leadership. Through their individual challenges, they each learn the importance of aligning their values, developing psychological capacities such as resilience and emotional intelligence, and practicing mindfulness. The case studies also highlight the obstacles commonly faced by leaders in upholding the principles of authentic leadership, particularly in the context of power dynamics within organizations.
... The intervention consisted of guided instructions through several yoga postures (see Online Supplementary Materials 1). In order to manipulate the two main facets of mindfulness-awareness and a nonjudgmental and accepting attitude (Bishop et al., 2004), we used specific mindfulness instructions in the mindful yoga intervention. To encourage awareness, the instructor repeatedly prompted participants to focus their attention to experiences in the present moment (e.g., breath or body sensations) and to notice if their attention was wandering away from the present moment and bring it back to a present moment experience. ...
Objectives
This study was designed to test whether a brief mindful yoga intervention can prevent depression-related responses to dysphoric events.
Methods
One-hundred-75 undergraduate participants were assigned to one of four conditions in a single-session study. Three conditions received a dysphoric affect induction. Before the induction, participants completed a 20-minute intervention consisting of (a) mindful yoga, (b) stretching, or (c) relaxation control. The fourth condition consisted of a neutral affect induction to examine the validity of the dysphoric affect induction. We hypothesized that compared to relaxation control and stretching, mindful yoga participants would show less: (H1) state depressed affect; (H2) rumination; and (H3) attentional bias toward depression-related words.
Results
Validity checks indicated that the dysphoric affect induction led to greater state depressed affect and rumination, but not attentional bias. Compared to relaxation control, mindful yoga did not show less state depression, rumination, or attentional bias. The stretching group showed less depression and rumination.
Conclusions
The results do not provide support for mindful yoga in preventing depression-related reactivity. It may be that when given in a brief, one-time dose, stretching is the better choice for preventing negative outcomes from a subsequent dysphoric experience.
... Meditation reflects a vast array of practices (e.g., Matko and Sedlmeier, 2019), with common typologies largely centred on focused attention and open monitoring (see e.g., , given their prominent role in Mindfulness-based Practices (MBPs; see Cullen et al. (2021)). The practice of focused attention meditation is widely investigated in the scientific literature (Bishop et al., 2004;Ganesan et al., 2022a;. Also categorized as body-centred meditation when focus is anchored on bodily sensations (see Matko and Sedlmeier, 2019 for detailed distinctions), this technique entails focusing and sustaining attention on an object or experience (e.g., bodily breathing sensations) while actively noticing and disengaging from distractions (e.g., mind-wandering). ...
... Mindfulness facilitates optimal performance by allowing the individual to recall experiences in the present moment along with self-regulation (Bishop et al., 2004;Brown & Ryan, 2003;Kabat-Zinn, 2013;Siegel et al., 2010). Once awareness is established, the athlete can proceed without expectations. ...
Introduction – Pre-performance routines (PPRs) Introduction are defined as physical and psychological routines that are carried out by athletes prior to performing a particular skill. PPRs are highly integral in improving an athlete’s performance by building on mental strength, focus, determination, resiliency and concentration. Athletes in Malta do not have the advantage of being solely focused on weightlifting, but rather have to split time between employment and sports. This creates a rather stressed athlete that needs to learn to perform under pressure. The purpose of this study is to be able to see how basic mental skills during pre-performance routines including visualisation of the movement, deep breathing techniques and positive self-talk aid in conducting a successful lift. Furthermore, this research will outline the important of pre-performance routines for weightlifters along with the knowledge Maltese athletes own, with regards to PPRs. Finally gender differences with regards to maintenance and usage of PPRs will be investigated.
Methodology – Qualitative Analysis is the method utilised in this dissertation. Questions for the interview are semi-structured and the athletes were chosen through convenient sampling. Information sheets were handed through the gatekeeper, and signed consent forms were collected prior to the interviews. Thematic Analysis is utilised for codes and themes to be generated.
Results – Not all Maltese weightlifters have a set routine and not all weightlifters know what pre performance routines are. It is clear that in Malta, both coaches and athletes need to learn more how to utilise and develop pre-performance routines in their training
Over the last couple of decades, mindfulness training has become a nearly ubiquitous intervention sought for nearly all physical and mental health disorders. This includes people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their loved ones. Although it is effective as a complementary therapy within an ADHD treatment package, it has not been validated as a mainline treatment modality to the exclusion of other effective therapeutic interventions, such as stimulant medication, enhanced functional structure, and behavioural parent training. Research evidence has demonstrated that regular and time-intensive mindfulness practice improves cognitive and behavioural control. It also plays a role in reducing activity in the default mode network within the brain, which has been linked with inattention and mind wandering. Mindfulness practice also appears to change grey and white matter structures and networks within the brain, particularly in those areas that have long been associated with ADHD symptoms and associated dysfunction. Further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of mindfulness training for individuals with more complex symptom presentations and those who are new to contemplative practices.
La méditation pleine conscience, ou ‘mindfulness meditation’ (MM), est une pratique inspirée des traditions millénaires hindouistes et bouddhistes ayant reçue l’intérêt de la recherche en sciences cognitives depuis les années 70. Diverses études montrent que la MM est un exercice permettant la protection de l’attention soutenue. Cependant, l’ennui, à la fois un état et une disposition, est plus ou moins présent selon les individus. En effet, littérature s’accorde sur le fait que la MM est un excellent exercice pour minimiser les effets de l’état d’ennui sur l’attention soutenue. Cependant, il n’y a, à ce jour, pas d’études explorant l’effet de l’ennui-disposition sur la pratique de la méditation. Nous faisons dans ce mémoire l’hypothèse générale suivante : l’ennui-disposition est un échec de la régulation attentionnelle qui aurait un effet délétère sur le succès de la pratique méditative.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) in decision-making, inhibitory control and impulsivity compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) for individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUD’s) in Brazil. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with participants from a therapeutic community (n = 122). Decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), impulsivity dimensions (UPPS-P Scale), and inhibitory control (Stroop Color-Word Test) were assessed before and after the MBRP 8-week intervention. GLM Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the effects of MBRP on different impulsivity measures. The results showed that MBRP+TAU improved the general decision-making score (p = 0,008) compared to TAU. However, no significant effects were found in impulsivity dimensions and inhibitory control in individuals with SUDs in the therapeutic community. This study found improvement in decision-making in the total IGT score; however, no effect for self-reported impulsivity and inhibitory control among middle-aged patients after an 8-weeks intervention of MBRP protocol in an inpatient setting. It adds information to the subject, with implications and possible directions to be followed by the next clinical trials with patients with SUDs in treatment.
Trial registration : EnsaiosClinicos.gov.br : RBR-6c9njc .
Introduction
There is growing interest in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to combat mental distress in medical students. In Saudi Arabia, literature is insufficient about MBSR and its effectiveness. This study aims to measure the effectiveness of MBSR in improving mindful state, stress, anxiety, and depression in medical students. Also, the study explores the association between the attendance rate of MBSR sessions and its effectiveness. Lastly, the study examines gender differences in response to MBSR.
Methods
This is a stratified randomized controlled study of 84 medical students from two medical schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They were recruited voluntarily from November 2018 to April 2021, and allocated to MBSR and waitlist groups using a stratified randomization method based on gender. MBSR group received eight weeks of sessions through audiovisual materials. An online survey utilizing validated questionnaires assessing stress, mindfulness, anxiety, and depression was used to evaluate both groups pre-program (time 0), post-program (time 1), and three months later (time 2).
Results
Seventy-one participants completed the post-test (time 1). There were no differences between study groups at time 0 and 1. However, in 41 subjects who completed the follow-up test (time 2), the anxiety dropped significantly in MBSR group (mean difference (MD), -3.935; 95% CI, -7.580 to -0.290). Furthermore, attending more MBSR sessions was inversely correlated with depression (r, -0.556; P, 0.002), and anxiety (r, -0.630; P, 0.000). Compared to their baseline, males in MBSR group improved in stress (MD, 3.08; 95% CI, 0.30 to 5.86), anxiety (MD, 4.91; 95% CI, 3.32 to 6.50), and mindfulness (MD, -0.58; 95% CI, -1.01 to -0.15), while females improved in stress (MD, 2.64; 95% CI, 0.02 to 5.26).
Conclusion
Despite the study being interrupted by the stressful COVID-19 outbreak, the findings suggest that MBSR improved psychological outcomes when participants commit to the program.
Irish Catholic primary education operates within a context increasingly marked by detraditionalisation and secularisation. As religious belief and identity recedes in Ireland, Catholic schools face challenges in enabling the children they serve to develop a personal relationship with God and nurturing their faith formation and development, an important element of the mission of the Catholic school. At the same time, mindfulness practice has grown exponentially in popularity across many sectors of society, including in Irish education. A growing body of research supports mindfulness practice in schools, citing benefits such as improved academic performance and enhanced wellbeing. This review examines the development of mindfulness practice in Irish Catholic primary schools. Curricular reform in primary education regarding the growing role of wellbeing is explored. The review also addresses opportunities and challenges to mindfulness practice in these schools.
Interest in psychological practices based on formation of mindfulness skill is currently increasing in foreign and Russian research. The objective of this review was to systematize data on mindfulness as a complex psychological phenomenon. Approaches to its definition, its place in the structure of psychological processes, and proposed models are considered.
Introduction: It is very important to know the factors that influence motivational processes in children’s participation in physical activities. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the structural relationships of self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness with behavioral regulation of students in physical activity. Method: The method of this study was descriptive correlation based on structural equations. The statistical population included all male elementary school students in Tabriz city in the academic year 2021-2022, and the statistical sample included 384 students selected by an available sample. Self-efficacy (Pender et al., 2002), Body Image (Cash et al., 2004), Mindfulness (Ahern et al., 2011), and Behavioral Regulation (Ryan et al., 2019) questionnaires were used for data collection. Pearson’s correlation test and structural equations with SPSS version 26 and Lisrel version 8 programs were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed a direct and significant relationship between self-efficacy and body image, mindfulness and behavioral regulation (P<0.001), and a direct and significant relationship between body image and mindfulness and behavioral regulation (P<0.001), and mindfulness had a direct and significant relationship with behavioral regulation (P<0.001). Finally, the theoretical model of the research had a good fit. Conclusion: This study showed that self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness improve students’ behavioral regulation in physical activity participation. Therefore; it is necessary to develop appropriate strategies and interventions, especially by physical education teachers, to teach techniques to increase self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness in children.
The focus on mental health during emerging adulthood (EA) is necessary due to the development of mental disorders before the age of 25 and the adverse effects of stress and anxiety on psychological well-being. Mindfulness has been shown to aid in coping with stress and anxiety, while intolerance of uncertainty can lead to higher distress levels. The aim of this research was to explore the prevalence and interrelationships between anxiety, stress, intolerance of uncertainty, and mindfulness, as well as potential gender differences. The study involved 425 emerging adults, with a majority of female participants. Anxiety and stress levels were found to be mild, with anxiety tending towards a moderate level in women. Gender differences were observed solely within the dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty, with women displaying higher levels of intolerance. For women, all of the measured variables correlated as expected; stress and anxiety showed moderate positive relationships with the dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty but negative ones with mindfulness. Furthermore, the dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty were negatively correlated with mindfulness in the female sample. Whereas for men, only anxiety and stress correlated positively, and stress also exhibited a negative relationship with mindfulness. Additionally, the dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty showed low negative correlations with mindfulness. Significant predictors for anxiety were inhibitory anxiety, as one of the dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty and mindfulness. On the other hand, all of the measured predictors were statistically significant for stress, indicating that being intolerant of uncertainty and less mindful were associated with higher stress levels. An identifying factor contributing to anxiety and stress during EA, for both men and women, is essential because it increases our understanding, which may lead to more efficient prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose
The number of mindfulness intervention projects is continually increasing. Within the educational environment, mindfulness has purported links to well-being, positive behaviour, educational and cognitive performance. Trait mindfulness is related to rational thinking and better performance in cognitive tests, suggesting that innate mindfulness ability contributes to self-regulation ability and thus the efficacy of mindfulness interventions. The current study investigates whether mindfulness is a moderating factor. It examines correlations between cognitive performance and trait mindfulness. The study investigates the influence of trait mindfulness on the ability of students to enter state mindfulness in an attempt to understand the role both types of mindfulness may have on cognitive performance.
Participants and Method
Two-hundred and five male students aged fifteen and sixteen completed the adolescent version of the Mindfulness Awareness Scale, the Cognitive Reflection Test, and the Toronto Mindfulness Scale.
Results
Hierarchical regression analysis found that state mindfulness was a predictor of cognitive reflection ability. ANOVA also found that having either trait or state mindfulness predicted higher cognitive reflection scores, but only state mindfulness had a significant effect on cognitive reflection. Trait mindfulness was not a moderating factor.
Conclusion
Both state and trait aspects of mindfulness ability influence cognitive performance. Those with higher trait mindfulness ability are better able to enter state mindfulness and thus had better cognitive reflection scores. However, where it is possible to induce state mindfulness into those with low trait mindfulness, CRT scores were also higher although not significantly so.
Refugees experience numerous psychological and social problems associated with experiences in their homecountries, during asylum-seeking, and conditions in their new environment. Therefore, refugees are likely toexperience a decline in psychological and social capital, negatively affecting their well-being. Mindfulness is aknown trait-like attribute that is associated with superior well-being outcomes. The present correlational studyinvestigated the mediating role of psychological and social capital in the association between mindfulness andwell-being outcomes (life satisfaction and happiness) among refugees in resource-constrained settlements in Uganda. As part of the RESS-R (Refugee Entrepreneurship and Skilling for Self-Reliance) project, 576 refugees from rural settlements and urban locations took part in the study. The results of the structural equation model revealed that mindfulness was positively associated with psychological and social capital. However, only psychological capital had a mediating effect in the relationship between mindfulness and the well-being variables. Our findings provide insights into the relationships between positive psychological attributes and well-being outcomes among refugees living in resource-constrained settings.
Introduction:
The use of complementary therapies within oncology is a clinical issue, and their evaluation a methodological challenge. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study exploring the lived experience of a French program of complementary therapies combining structured physical activity and MBSR among women with breast cancer.
Methods:
This French exploratory qualitative study followed the five stages of the Inductive Process to analyze the Structure of lived Experience (IPSE) approach. Data was collected from February to April 2021 through semi structured interviews. Participants, purposively selected until data saturation. Inclusion criteria were: being an adult woman with breast cancer whatever the stage who had completed their treatment and were part of the program of complementary therapies.
Results:
29 participants were included. Data analysis produced a structure of experience based on two central axes: 1) the experience these women hoped for, with two principal expectations, that is to take care of their bodies and themselves, and to become actors in their own care; and 2) an experience of discovery, first of themselves and also in their relationship with the exterior, whether with others, or in society, and in the relationships with health-care providers.
Conclusions:
Our results from this French study reinforce the data described in other western countries about the needs of women receiving care in oncology departments for breast cancer: they need to be informed of the existence of supportive care in cancer by the health-care professionals themselves, to be listened to, and to receive support care. A systematic work of reflexivity about this redundancy in our results and in the qualitative literature, led us to question what impeded the exploration of more complex aspects of the experience of this women-the inherently emotional and anxiety-inducing experience of cancer, especially anxiety about its recurrence and of death-and to suggest new research perspectives to overcome these methodological and theoretical obstacles.
While current models of mindfulness propose benefits to the executive functions of inhibition, updating and shifting through mindful breathing meditations, empirical findings on the effects of short mindful breathing meditations are inconclusive regarding their specificity and dose-response relations. Therefore, we compared short mindful breathing meditations (Experiment 1, 45 min over three sessions; Experiment 2, 80 min over four sessions) with relaxation trainings (progressive muscle relaxation; active control) and listening to podcasts (passive control) in two randomized controlled double-blinded trials. Reaction time tasks were used to assess the executive functions of updating (N-Back), inhibition (CPT-II), and shifting (Number-Letter Task). Results of both experiments suggest no mindfulness-specific improvements in executive functions. We conclude that effects following the first stages of mindfulness training may not be specific to the practice or too transient to be reliably measured in pre-post intervention designs. Implications for research in the field are discussed.
A distinction between ruminative and reflective types of private self-attentiveness is introduced and evaluated with respect to L. R. Goldberg's (1982) list of 1,710 English trait adjectives (Study 1), the five-factor model of personality (FFM) and A. Fenigstein, M. F. Scheier, and A. Buss's(1975) Self-Consciousness Scales (Study 2), and previously reported correlates and effects of private self-consciousness (PrSC; Studies 3 and 4). Results suggest that the PrSC scale confounds two unrelated motivationally distinct disposition-rumination and reflection-and that this confounding may account for the "self-absorption paradox" implicit in PrSC research findings: Higher PrSC sources are associated with more accurate and extensive self-knowledge yet higher levels of psychological distress. The potential of the FFM to provide a comprehensive Framework for conceptualizing self-attentive dispositions, and to order and integrate research findings within this domain, is discussed.
Studies suggest that young children are quite limited in their knowledge about cognitive phenomena—or in their metacognition—and do relatively little monitoring of their own memory, comprehension, and other cognitive enterprises. Metacognitive knowledge is one's stored knowledge or beliefs about oneself and others as cognitive agents, about tasks, about actions or strategies, and about how all these interact to affect the outcomes of any sort of intellectual enterprise. Metacognitive experiences are conscious cognitive or affective experiences that occur during the enterprise and concern any aspect of it—often, how well it is going. Research is needed to describe and explain spontaneous developmental acquisitions in this area and find effective ways of teaching metacognitive knowledge and cognitive monitoring skills. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Syndromal classification is a well-developed diagnostic system but has failed to deliver on its promise of the identification of functional pathological processes. Functional analysis is tightly connected to treatment but has failed to develop testable, replicable classification systems. Functional diagnostic dimensions are suggested as a way to develop the functional classification approach, and experiential avoidance is described as 1 such dimension. A wide range of research is reviewed showing that many forms of psychopathology can be conceptualized as unhealthy efforts to escape and avoid emotions, thoughts, memories, and other private experiences. It is argued that experiential avoidance, as a functional diagnostic dimension, has the potential to integrate the efforts and findings of researchers from a wide variety of theoretical paradigms, research interests, and clinical domains and to lead to testable new approaches to the analysis and treatment of behavioral disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Psychological mindedness and mindfulness are common themes across schools of psychotherapy. A somewhat smaller construct can be better defined: self- and relational observational capacity. This article defines and assesses strategies for 3 components of self- and relational observation: (a) awareness of feelings, ideas, and emotional control; (b) awareness of changing states of mind; and (c) awareness of self-concepts or schemas such as mental models of roles in a relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
In an earlier article (J. R. Martin, 1997a), I proposed a common factor of mindfulness that can be found in all psychotherapy orientations. Mindfulness was defined as a state of psychological freedom that occurs when attention remains quiet and limber, without attachment to any particular point of view. In the present commentary, I explore some linkages between this common factor and M. J. Horowitz's (see record
2002-13441-001) ideas regarding self- and relational observation. His article offers several promising ideas for psychotherapy integration and the potential development of effective psychotherapy interventions. It also expands the discourse related to a mindfulness factor (J. R. Martin, 1997a) and its facets, linkages, and its implications for clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
what is the relationship between the study of attention and the understanding of consciousness / begin our inquiry into this question by briefly reviewing evidence for the existence of three networks involved in selective attention: the posterior and anterior attention systems and the vigilance system / consider the role of these three networks in awareness and control
relate awareness and conscious control to issues of [attention network] development and psychopathology / provide examples of the ways in which failures of these aspects of awareness and control are related to psychopathology
structures and functions of selective attention / awareness and the attentional networks / development of attentional networks / pathologies of attention (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
In an investigation of task-set reconfiguration, participants switched between 2 tasks on every 2nd trial in 5 experiments and on every 4th trial in a final experiment. The tasks were to classify either the digit member of a pair of characters as even/odd or the letter member as consonant/vowel. As the response–stimulus interval increased up to 0.6 s, the substantial cost to performance of this predictable task-switch fell: Participants could partially reconfigure in advance of the stimulus. However, even with 1.2 s available for preparation, a large asymptotic reaction time (RT) cost remained, but only on the 1st trial of the new task. This is attributed to a component of reconfiguration triggered exogenously, i.e., only by a task-relevant stimulus. That stimuli evoke associated task-sets also explains why RT and switch costs increased when the stimulus included a character associated with the currently irrelevant task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Eye movements were recorded while participants viewed line-drawing pictures of natural scenes in preparation for a memory test (Experiment 1) or to find a target object (Experiment 2). Initial saccades in a scene were not controlled by semantic information in the visual periphery, although fixation densities and fixation durations were affected by semantic consistency. The results are compared with earlier eye-tracking studies, and a qualitative model of eye movement control in scene perception is discussed in which initial saccades in a scene are controlled by visual but not semantic analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Generalized anxiety disorder (CAD) is a chronic, pervasive disorder for which we have yet to develop sufficiently efficacious interventions. In this article we propose that recent research and theory regarding this disorder supports the integration of acceptance-based treatments with existing cognitive-behavioral treatments for CAD to improve the efficacy and clinical significance of such approaches. The bases for this proposal (from both the CAD and the acceptance-based treatment literature) are reviewed, and a new treatment stemming from this conceptual integration is described.
This article provides a cognitive framework for integrating mindfulness meditation into substance abuse treatment. We review recent developments in cognitive theory and treatment research that point toward mind-fulness meditation as a useful additional strategy for reducing relapse. Although the idea of using meditation to reduce substance use is not new, there are several reasons for further exploring the relevance of mindful-ness for addiction treatment. This article reviews the cognitive-behavioral formulation of relapse, evaluations of mindfulness meditation as a component of the treatment of psychopathology, and the role of information processes in relapse. We also present an information-processing analysis of how mindfulness can help prevent relapse and discuss its utility and clinical implications.
This paper proposes a framework for understanding people's theories about their own cognition. Metacognitive theories are defined broadly as systematic frameworks used to explain and direct cognition, metacognitive knowledge, and regulatory skills. We distinguish tacit, informal, and formal metacognitive theories and discuss critical differences among them using criteria borrowed from the developmental literature. We also consider the origin and development of these theories, as well as implications for educational research and practice.
Mindfulness is proposed as a core psychotherapy process. It is defined as a state of psychological freedom that occurs when attention remains quiet and limber, without attachment to any particular point of view. It can be shown that this process is collaborativefy employed by psychotherapist and patient within all psychotherapy orientations, and also by the integrative psychotherapist when making optimal choices among orientations. This article addresses (1) the defining attributes of mindfulness, (2) relevant conceptual approaches that lend theoretical support for a mindfulness factor, (3) two attentional forms of mindfulness that seem to have particular correspondence with either psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy, (4) clinical applications, and (5) the role of mindfulness for the integrative decision-making process.
The efficacy of a 6-week meditation-based group intervention for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) was evaluated in 18 obese women, using standard and eating-specific mindfulness meditation exercises. A single-group extended baseline design assessed all variables at 3 weeks pre-and post-, and at 1, 3, and 6 weeks; briefer assessment occurred weekly.
Binges decreased in frequency, from 4.02/week to 1.57/week (p < .001), and in severity. Scores on the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and on the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories decreased significantly; sense of control increased. Time using eatingrelated meditations predicted decreases on the BES (r 5 .66, p < .01). Results suggest that meditation training may be an effective component in treating BED.
A randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral therapy, ie, dialectical behavior therapy, for the treatment of chronically parasuicidal women who met criteria for borderline personality disorder. The treatment lasted 1 year, with assessment every 4 months. The control condition was "treatment as usual" in the community. At most assessment points and during the entire year, the subjects who received dialectical behavior therapy had fewer incidences of parasuicide and less medically severe parasuicides, were more likely to stay in individual therapy, and had fewer inpatient psychiatric days. There were no between-group differences on measures of depression, hopelessness, suicide ideation, or reasons for living although scores on all four measures decreased throughout the year.
The Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) is based on a new cognitive-developmental model of emotional experience. The scale poses evocative interpersonal situations and elicits descriptions of the emotional responses of self and others which are scored using specific structural criteria. Forty undergraduates (20 of each sex) were tested. Interrater reliability and intratest homogeneity of the LEAS were strong. The LEAS was significantly correlated with two measures of maturity: the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (SCT) of Ego Development, and the Parental Descriptions Scale-a cognitive-developmental measure of object representation. In addition, the LEAS correlated positively with openness to experience and emotional range but not with measures of specific emotions, repression or the number of words used in the LEAS responses. These findings suggest that it is the level of emotion, not the specific quality of emotion, that is tapped by the LEAS.
Administered a questionnaire containing items of varied content believed to be related to hypnotizability to 481 female undergraduates. 2 subsamples of 142 and 171 Ss, respectively, also completed Block's Ego Resiliency and Ego Control questionnaire scales and the Group Scales of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Analysis of the combined questionnaire data yielded 3 replicated higher order factors: the familiar dimensions of Stability and Introversion and a 3rd factor, Absorption. Absorption is interpreted as a disposition for having episodes of "total" attention that fully engage one's representational (i.e., perceptual, enactive, imaginative, and ideational) resources. This kind of attentional functioning is believed to result in a heightened sense of the reality of the attentional object, imperviousness to distracting events, and an altered sense of reality in general, including an empathically altered sense of self. Only Absorption was consistently correlated with hypnotizability. Absorption appears to be of interest for the study of hypnosis and personality. (38 ref)
This study explored the interacting effects of personal dispositions and situational conditions on the stress response. Forty gynecologic patients about to undergo a diagnostic procedure (colposcopy) were divided into information seekers (monitors) and information avoiders (blunters). Half in each group were exposed to voluminous preparatory information, and half to the usual low level of information. Subjective, physiological, and behavioral measures of arousal and discomfort were obtained before, during, and after the procedure. Overall, low-information patients expressed less subjective arousal than high-information patients, and blunters showed less subjective and behavioral arousal than monitors. In addition, patients' level of psychophysiological arousal was lower when the level of preparatory information was consistent with their coping style; that is, blunters were less aroused with low information and monitors were less aroused with high information. Further evidence was gained for the utility and validity of a new scale for identifying monitors and blunters.
A previous paper described the development of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and reported preliminary evidence of reliability and factorial validity of the scale. This paper describes a study that further evaluated the construct validity of the TAS-20 by examining its relationship with measures of personality traits theoretically related or unrelated to the alexithymia construct, as well as its relationship with an observer-rated measure of alexithymia. Evidence of convergent and discriminant validity of the TAS-20 was demonstrated in samples of university students by a pattern of correlations with the scales of the NEO Personality Inventory and separate measures of psychological mindedness and need-for-cognition that was consistent with theoretical predictions. The concurrent validity of the scale was demonstrated by positive correlations with observer-ratings of alexithymia in a sample of behavioural medicine out-patients.
This research extends a cognitive-developmental approach to examining age differences in self-representation from adolescence to mature adulthood and later life. The authors suggest that mature adults move from representations of self that are relatively poorly differentiated from others or social conventions to ones that involve emphasis on process, context, and individuality. Participants (n men = 73, n women = 76), ranging in age from 11 to 85 years, provided spontaneous accounts of their self-representations and responded to measures assessing cognitive and emotional functioning and broad dimensions of personality. On average, self-representation scores peaked in middle-aged adults and were lowest in the preadolescent and older adult age groups. Level of self-representation was related to cognitive and personality variables, but there was some evidence that the pattern of correlates shifted from younger (ages 15-45) to older (ages 46-85) age segments.
The paper traces the relationship between attachment processes and the development of the capacity to envision mental states in self and others. We suggest that the ability to mentalize, to represent behavior in terms of mental states, or to have "a theory of mind" is a key determinant of self-organization which is acquired in the context of the child's early social relationships. Evidence for an association between the quality of attachment relationship and reflective function in the parent and the child is reviewed and interpreted in the context of current models of theory of mind development. A model of the development of self-organization is proposed which has at its core the caregiver's ability to communicate understanding of the child's intentional stance. The implications of the model for pathological self-development are explored, with specific reference to the consequences of maltreatment.
A distinction is made between metacognitive knowledge (knowing that thoughts are not necessarily always accurate) and metacognitive insight (experiencing thoughts as events in the field of awareness, rather than as direct readouts on reality). This distinction, and its relevance to preventing relapse and recurrence in depression, is examined within the Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS) theoretical framework. This analysis suggests, as an alternative to cognitive therapy with its focus on changing the content of depression-related thought, the strategy of changing the configuration, or mode, within which depression-related thoughts and feelings are processed, i.e. changing one's relationship to inner experience. Specifically, facilitating a metacognitive insight mode, in which thoughts are experienced simply as events in the mind, offers an alternative preventative strategy. Mindfulness training teaches skills to enter this mode, and forms a central component of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, a novel, cost-efficient group preventative programme, for which there is encouraging evidence of effectiveness. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An ACT Approach Chapter 1. What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Steven C. Hayes, Kirk D. Strosahl, Kara Bunting, Michael Twohig, and Kelly G. Wilson Chapter 2. An ACT Primer: Core Therapy Processes, Intervention Strategies, and Therapist Competencies. Kirk D. Strosahl, Steven C. Hayes, Kelly G. Wilson and Elizabeth V. Gifford Chapter 3. ACT Case Formulation. Steven C. Hayes, Kirk D. Strosahl, Jayson Luoma, Alethea A. Smith, and Kelly G. Wilson ACT with Behavior Problems Chapter 4. ACT with Affective Disorders. Robert D. Zettle Chapter 5. ACT with Anxiety Disorders. Susan M. Orsillo, Lizabeth Roemer, Jennifer Block-Lerner, Chad LeJeune, and James D. Herbert Chapter 6. ACT with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Alethea A. Smith and Victoria M. Follette Chapter 7. ACT for Substance Abuse and Dependence. Kelly G. Wilson and Michelle R. Byrd Chapter 8. ACT with the Seriously Mentally Ill. Patricia Bach Chapter 9. ACT with the Multi-Problem Patient. Kirk D. Strosahl ACT with Special Populations, Settings, and Methods Chapter 10. ACT with Children, Adolescents, and their Parents. Amy R. Murrell, Lisa W. Coyne, & Kelly G. Wilson Chapter 11. ACT for Stress. Frank Bond. Chapter 12. ACT in Medical Settings. Patricia Robinson, Jennifer Gregg, JoAnne Dahl, & Tobias Lundgren Chapter 13. ACT with Chronic Pain Patients. Patricia Robinson, Rikard K. Wicksell, Gunnar L. Olsson Chapter 14. ACT in Group Format. Robyn D. Walser and Jacqueline Pistorello
This paper presents a relational approach to understanding the self and change that represents a convergence of theoretical perspectives and developments in the literature regarding, for example, emotion, communication, attachment, child development, intersubjectivity, and social constructionism. It introduces the Beth Israel Brief Psychotherapy Research Program as a center for the study of the therapeutic relationship, specifically alliance ruptures and impasses. The program is designed to assess change on multiple dimensions by multiple measures from multiple perspectives and on three levels of analysis: ultimate, intermediate, and immediate outcome. The paper then presents a sampling of studies illustrating the work accomplished at each level. In addition, it outlines current and future investigatory endeavors and, in the process, suggests increased efforts to study the therapist subjective experience in the context of the therapeutic relationship, especially in the resolution of therapeutic alliance ruptures.
In 7 analytic-philosophical essays, some major theoretical concepts, practical attitudes, and questions of technique in psychoanalysis are investigated. In "Meaning and Being," it is argued that "meaning-reorganization" is more germane to psychoanalysis than uncovering a "hidden reality" of unconscious wishes. In "Anxiety and Disintegration," various classical theories of anxiety are reviewed. In "Blame," the act of blaming is described as a moralistic response to a conflict-arousing situation. "Guilt and Responsibility" suggests that the psychoanalytic process looks for guilt behind guilt feelings and forces the patient to assume responsibility for thoughts and acts over which he did not previously have conscious control. In "Karma and the Inner-world," eastern reincarnation doctrines and psychoanalysis are compared on the self-concepts underlying them. In "Art, Therapy and the External World," the psychoanalytic concepts of introjection, projection, identification, and empathy are analyzed in the context of transference and countertransference process. The final esay on "Mystic selflessness" compares post therapeutic self-reflections of a patient with classical phrases from mysticism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
what is the nature of the basic processes that underlie overt human behavior / the concept of motivation . . . was developed as part of the attempt to answer this question / people act in particular ways because they are "motivated" to do so
human behavior is a continual process of moving toward various kinds of mental goal representations, and . . . this movement occurs by a process of feedback control
this view treats behavior as being the consequence of an internal guidance system that is inherent in the way humans are organized / for this reason, we tend to refer to the mechanism underlying human behavior as a system of "self-regulation" / our goal in this chapter is to create a sense of how such a model of behavior can be fit to the human experience (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Two hundred twenty-five chronic pain patients were studied following training in mindfulness meditation. Large and significant overall improvements were recorded post-intervention in physical and psychological status. These gains were maintained at follow-up in the majority of subjects. Follow-up times ranged from 2.5-48 months. Status on the McGill Melzack Pain Rating Index (PRI), however, tended to revert to preintervention levels following the intervention. Most subjects reported a high degree of adherence with the meditation techniques, maintenance of improved status over time, and a high degree of importance attributed to the training program. We conclude that such training can have long-term benefit for chronic pain patients.
A theoretical framework for metacognition in clinical psychology is proposed that emphasizes the metacognitive monitoring and metacognitive control of emotional states. The proposal is that the person monitors his/her emotional state, applies a label to it, compares it to a goal state, and takes action to make the current emotional state become closer to the goal state. Implications are drawn for clinical research and clinical practice, with examples given for schizophrenia and excessive anger. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how Buddhist philosophy can be applied in the treatment of individuals with substance abuse problems (alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug use) and other addictive behaviors (e.g., compulsive eating and gambling). First I describe the background of my own interest in meditation and Buddhist psychology, followed by a brief summary of my prior research on the effects of meditation on alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers. In the second section, I outline some of the basic principles of Buddhist philosophy that provide a theoretical underpinning for defining addiction, how it develops, and how it can be alleviated. The third and final section presents four principles within Buddhist psychology that have direct implications for the cognitive-behavioral treatment of addictive behavior: mindfulness meditation, the Middle Way philosophy, the Doctrine of Impermanence, and compassion and the Eightfold Noble Path. Clinical interventions and case examples are described for each of these four principles based on my research and clinical practice with clients seeking help for resolving addictive behavior problems.
I propose that the ways people respond to their own symptoms of depression influence the duration of these symptoms. People who engage in ruminative responses to depression, focusing on their symptoms and the possible causes and consequences of their symptoms, will show longer depressions than people who take action to distract themselves from their symptoms. Ruminative responses prolong depression because they allow the depressed mood to negatively bias thinking and interfere with instrumental behavior and problem-solving. Laboratory and field studies directly testing this theory have supported its predictions. I discuss how response styles can explain the greater likelihood of depression in women than men. Then I intergrate this response styles theory with studies of coping with discrete events. The response styles theory is compared to other theories of the duration of depression. Finally, I suggest what may help a depressed person to stop engaging in ruminative responses and how response styles for depression may develop.
Ninety chronic pain patients were trained in mindfulness meditation in a 10-week Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program. Statistically significant reductions were observed in measures of present-moment pain, negative body image, inhibition of activity by pain, symptoms, mood disturbance, and psychological symptomatology, including anxiety and depression. Pain-related drug utilization decreased and activity levels and feelings of self-esteem increased. Improvement appeared to be independent of gender, source of referral, and type of pain. A comparison group of pain patients did not show significant improvement on these measures after traditional treatment protocols. At follow-up, the improvements observed during the meditation training were maintained up to 15 months post-meditation training for all measures except present-moment pain. The majority of subjects reported continued high compliance with the meditation practice as part of their daily lives. The relationship of mindfulness meditation to other psychological methods for chronic pain control is discussed.
Consistent behavior patterns are created by variable acts, and generally repeat only because detailed acts change. The accepted explanation of this paradox, that "cues" cause the changes, is irrelevant; it is unsupported by evidence, and incapable of dealing with novel situations. The apparent purposefulness of variations of behavioral acts can be accepted as fact in the framework of a control-system model of behavior. A control system, properly organized for its environment, will produce whatever output is required in order to achieve a constant sensed result, even in the presence of unpredictable disturbances. A control-system model of the brain provides a physical explanation for the existence of goals or purposes, and shows that behavior is the control of input, not output. A systematic investigation of controlled quantities can reveal an organism's structure of control systems. The structure is hierarchical, in that some quantities are controlled as the means for controlling higher-order quantities. The output of a higher-order system is not a muscle force, but a reference level (variable) for a lower-order controlled quantity. The highest-order reference levels are inherited and are associated with the meta-behavior termed reorganization. When controlled quantities are discovered, the related stimulus-response laws become trivially predictable. Variability of behavior all but disappears once controlled quantities are known. Behavior itself is seen in terms of this model to be self-determined in a specific and highly significant sense that calls into serious doubt the ultimate feasibility of operant conditioning of human beings by other human beings.
Attentional performance was measured using a computerized continuous performance task, several psychometric tasks, and ratings of classroom behavior. Subjects were 51 children in the inpatient and day hospital programs of a psychiatric hospital. The relationship between performance on the computerized task and all other measures was examined. Results indicated that the continuous performance task significantly correlated with several other psychometric measures of inattention, ratings of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The CPT had slightly better sensitivity and the same specificity as the Conners Teacher Rating Scale in identifying Conduct and Attention Deficit Disordered children. Implications for the use of the computerized continuous performance task as a screening measure for attentional difficulties is discussed.
A previous study of 22 medical patients with DSM-III-R-defined anxiety disorders showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in subjective and objective symptoms of anxiety and panic following an 8-week outpatient physician-referred group stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation. Twenty subjects demonstrated significant reductions in Hamilton and Beck Anxiety and Depression scores postintervention and at 3-month follow-up. In this study, 3-year follow-up data were obtained and analyzed on 18 of the original 22 subjects to probe long-term effects. Repeated measures analysis showed maintenance of the gains obtained in the original study on the Hamilton [F(2,32) = 13.22; p < 0.001] and Beck [F(2,32) = 9.83; p < 0.001] anxiety scales as well as on their respective depression scales, on the Hamilton panic score, the number and severity of panic attacks, and on the Mobility Index-Accompanied and the Fear Survey. A 3-year follow-up comparison of this cohort with a larger group of subjects from the intervention who had met criteria for screening for the original study suggests generalizability of the results obtained with the smaller, more intensively studied cohort. Ongoing compliance with the meditation practice was also demonstrated in the majority of subjects at 3 years. We conclude that an intensive but time-limited group stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation can have long-term beneficial effects in the treatment of people diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
There is encouraging evidence that structured psychological treatments for depression, in particular cognitive therapy, can reduce subsequent relapse after the period of initial treatment has been completed. However, there is a continuing need for prophylactic psychological approaches that can be administered to recovered patients in euthymic mood. An information-processing analysis of depressive maintenance and relapse is used to define the requirements for effective prevention, and to propose mechanisms through which cognitive therapy achieves its prophylactic effects. This analysis suggests that similar effects can be achieved using techniques of stress-reduction based on the skills of attentional control taught in mindfulness meditation. An information-processing analysis is presented of mindfulness and mindlessness, and of their relevance to preventing depressive relapse. This analysis provides the basis for the development of Attentional Control Training, a new approach to preventing relapse that integrates features of cognitive therapy and mindfulness training and is applicable to recovered depressed patients.
Attentional bias is a central feature of many cognitive theories of psychopathology. One of the most frequent methods of investigating such bias has been an emotional analog of the Stroop task. In this task, participants name the colors in which words are printed, and the words vary in their relevance to each theme of psychopathology. The authors review research showing that patients are often slower to name the color of a word associated with concerns relevant to their clinical condition. They address the causes and mechanisms underlying the phenomenon, focusing on J.D. Cohen, K. Dunbar, and J.L. McClelland's (1990) parallel distributed processing model.
The authors of this paper discuss changes in the child's perception of psychic reality during normal development, highlighting a major shift in the child's understanding of minds ('theory of mind') at the oedipal stage. They illustrate this transition with material from the analysis of a 4-year-old girl. They maintain that the very young child uses two forms of psychic reality, which they have called 'psychic equivalent' and 'pretend' modes, which differ primarily in the assumed relationship between internal and external realities. The integration of the dual modes into a singular reflective mode is normally completed by about the age of 4, with affect leading cognition: the child first understands that people have different feelings, then that they may have different thoughts about the same external reality. The authors describe normal psychological growth and neurotic pathology, in which the integration of these two modes of functioning has been only partly achieved.
This study examined the effects of an 8-week stress reduction program based on training in mindfulness meditation. Previous research efforts suggesting this program may be beneficial in terms of reducing stress-related symptomatology and helping patients cope with chronic pain have been limited by a lack of adequate comparison control group.
Twenty-eight individuals who volunteered to participate in the present study were randomized into either an experimental group or a nonintervention control group.
Following participation, experimental subjects, when compared with controls, evidenced significantly greater changes in terms of: (1) reductions in overall psychological symptomatology; (2) increase in overall domain-specific sense of control and utilization of an accepting or yielding mode of control in their lives, and (3) higher scores on a measure of spiritual experiences.
The techniques of mindfulness meditation, with their emphasis on developing detached observation and awareness of the contents of consciousness, may represent a powerful cognitive behavioral coping strategy for transforming the ways in which we respond to life events. They may also have potential for relapse prevention in affective disorders.