Effects of brief mindful breathing and loving-kindness meditation on shame and social problem solving abilities among individuals with high borderline personality traits.

Brief mindfulness meditation, but not loving-kindness meditation (LKM), reduces shame in adults with high borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits. In a laboratory experiment, 88 participants with high BPD traits recalled a negative autobiographical memory to induce shame, then were randomly assigned to 10 minutes of mindful breathing, LKM, or a no-instruction control. Shame decreased significantly more in the mindfulness group than in the LKM or control groups. Social problem-solving abilities did not differ among groups after the intervention. The findings suggest mindfulness is effective for regulating shame in this population, while LKM may be less useful under high emotional arousal.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental condition characterized by a range of cognitive and behavioral vulnerabilities, including chronic shame and deficits in social problem solving (SPS) abilities. Little research however, has examined strategies that may alleviate shame and SPS deficits among individuals with BPD traits. Using a laboratory experimental approach, the present study compared the effects of a brief mindfulness versus loving-kindness meditation (LKM) induction on shame and SPS abilities in a sample of adults with high BPD traits. Eighty-eight participants underwent a shame induction procedure involving recall of a negative autobiographical memory. They were then randomly assigned to 10 min of mindful breathing or LKM, or a no-instruction condition. Shame and SPS abilities were assessed via visual analogue scales and the Means-Ends Problem Solving task respectively. Results indicated that there were significant decreases in shame from pre-to post-regulation in the mindfulness group versus the LKM and no-instruction groups. Groups did not differ on changes in SPS abilities from pre-to post-regulation. Overall, the findings support the efficacy of mindfulness as a strategy to regulate shame among individuals with BPD traits, and raises questions with regard to the utility of LKM in modulating shame in the context of high emotional arousal.