Imagining food can make it feel real, but mindful attention reduces this effect. In one condition, participants were instructed to immerse themselves in food images; in another, they applied mindful attention. Saliva volume and automatic approach bias toward attractive food were measured. Mindful attention reduced saliva volume and automatic approach bias compared to immersion. During immersion, higher saliva volume, subjective realism, and food craving traits were linked to stronger approach bias, while meditation experience was linked to weaker bias. The findings suggest that mindful attention can de-automatize automatic food biases.
A proposed theoretical model suggests that mindfulness meditation training improves interpersonal relationships by increasing self-awareness, self-regulation, and prosociality, which in turn enhance the quality of interactions and socioemotional support provided to others. Better support then boosts the recipient's emotion regulation. A study protocol aims to validate this tri-process model using a multiphasic longitudinal design with 640 participants randomized into 480 dyads. The work has theoretical and social implications for developing more effective interpersonal mindfulness programs.