Indices of association between anxiety and mindfulness: a guide for future mindfulness studies.
Satish Jaiswal, Neil G Muggleton, Chi-Hung Juan, Wei-Kuang Liang
Personality Neuroscience October 24, 2019 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2019.12 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Stress Emotion regulation Measurement indices |
| Key findings | The authors argue that converging self-report, behavioral, electrophysiological, hemodynamic, and biological evidence supports an inverse relationship between mindfulness and anxiety. They propose that stress activates the amygdala and HPA axis through sympathetic pathways, while mindfulness downregulates HPA activity via parasympathetic pathways, and they propose that mindfulness and anxiety interact through emotion regulation. |
Abstract
Mindfulness and anxiety are often linked as inversely related traits and there have been several theoretical and mediational models proposed suggesting such a relationship between these two traits. The current review report offers an account of self-report measures, behavioral, electrophysiological, hemodynamic, and biological studies, which provide converging evidence for an inverse relationship between mindfulness and anxiety. To our knowledge, there are no comprehensive accounts of empirical evidence that investigate this relationship. After reviewing several empirical studies, we propose a schematic model, where a stressor can trigger the activation of amygdala which activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) pathway. This hyperactive HPA axis leads to a cascade of psychological, behavioral, electrophysiological, immunological, endocrine, and genetic reactions in the body, primarily mediated by a sympathetic pathway. Conversely, mindfulness protects from deleterious effects of these triggered reactions by downregulating the HPA axis activity via a parasympathetic pathway. Finally, we propose a model suggesting a comprehensive scheme through which mindfulness and anxiety may interact through emotion regulation. It is recommended that future mindfulness intervention studies should examine a broad spectrum of measurement indices where possible, keeping logistic feasibility in mind and look at mindfulness in conjunction with anxiety rather than independently.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review General (healthcare, schools, workplace) | 2021 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology | 2018 | Review | |
| Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
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- Enhancing Mindfulness Effects on Well-Being Using Immersive Virtual Reality in Non-Clinical Populations: Where Are We Going? Mindfulness November 10, 2025
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Military Populations with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine September 1, 2024
- For whom does a brief mindfulness induction work? An exploration of the moderating role of individual differences in the effect of mindfulness induction on executive functioning and mind-wandering BMC Psychology September 3, 2026
- Dispositional mindfulness and anxiety: how do they relate to aging and word retrieval? Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition May 5, 2025
and 8 more in the library
Cites 29
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- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
and 24 more in the library