How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials.
Author: Lindsay EK1, Chin B2, Greco CM3, Young S4, Brown KW5, Wright AGC1, Smyth JM6, Burkett D7, Creswell JD2
Affiliation:
1Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh.
2Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University.
3Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh.
4Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont.
5Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University.
6Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University.
7Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Conference/Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol.
Date published: 2018 Dec
Other:
Volume ID: 115 , Issue ID: 6 , Pages: 944-973 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1037/pspa0000134. , Word Count: 252
Mindfulness meditation interventions-which train skills in monitoring present-moment experiences with a lens of acceptance-have shown promise for increasing positive emotions. Using a theory-based approach, we hypothesized that learning acceptance skills in mindfulness interventions helps people notice more positive experiences in daily life, and tested whether removing acceptance training from mindfulness interventions would eliminate intervention-related boosts in positive affect. In 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of stressed community adults, mindfulness skills were dismantled into 2 structurally equivalent interventions: (a) training in both monitoring and acceptance (Monitor + Accept) and (b) training in monitoring only (Monitor Only) without acceptance training. Study 1 tested 8-week group-based Monitor + Accept and Monitor Only interventions compared with a no treatment control group. Study 2 tested 2-week smartphone-based Monitor + Accept and Monitor Only interventions compared with an active control training. In both studies, end-of-day and momentary positive affect and negative affect were measured in daily life for 3 days pre- and post-intervention using ambulatory assessments. As predicted, across 2 RCTs, Monitor + Accept training increased positive affect compared with both Monitor Only and control groups. In Study 1, this effect was observed in end-of-day positive affect. In Study 2, this effect was found in both end-of-day and momentary positive affect outcomes. In contrast, all active interventions in Studies 1 and 2 decreased negative affect. These studies provide the first experimental evidence that developing an orientation of acceptance toward present-moment experiences is a central mechanism of mindfulness interventions for boosting positive emotions in daily life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02502227 NCT02433431.
PMID: 30550321 DOI: 10.1037/pspa0000134
BACK
