What is the Most Helpful Body‐Scan Posture for People with Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Tendency?

People with a tendency toward hyperactivity or impulsivity found body-scan meditation more challenging when sitting slumped and easier when lying supine. Upright sitting produced high positive reactions for the hyperactive/impulsive group but low positive reactions for a combined ADHD-tendency group. Sleepiness was moderately correlated with positive reactions in both supine and upright postures. The study developed and validated two new scales—the Mindfulness Encouraging Reactions Scale and Mindfulness Discouraging Reactions Scale—to capture typical positive and negative reactions during mindfulness exercises, but the authors caution that the items reflect beginners' intuitive impressions and should not be used as goals or avoidance targets.

Study at a glance

Abstract

We explored body‐scan postures suitable for people with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tendency by developing and validating the Mindfulness Encouraging/Discouraging Reactions Scales (MERS/MDRS), using university students. In Study 1, we conducted a survey to collect typical positive and negative reactions during mindfulness exercises from 21 participants and created the preliminary items. In Study 2, 192 participants completed existing state/trait mindfulness scales and the preliminary MERS and MDRS after mindful breathing. Based on an item response model, we developed and validated MERS and MDRS. In Study 3, 19 participants were categorized into one of four groups: (a) combined, (b) hyperactive/impulsive, (c) inattentive, and (d) without ADHD tendencies. They performed body‐scan meditations with each of the counterbalanced postures (upright, slumped, leaning‐back sitting, and supine), and completed the questionnaires. The analysis showed that those with hyperactivity/impulsivity tendency found the body‐scan meditation a challenge with the slumped posture and easier to perform in the supine posture; the upright posture provided high and low MERS to the hyperactivity/impulsivity tendency group and combined group, respectively; and sleepiness correlated with MERS in the supine posture (r = .49) and the upright posture (r = .51). We identified helpful body scan postures for people with ADHD tendency, using MERS and MDRS, but it was noted that these scales were created solely based on intuitive impressions for beginners, and it is not recommended that the items included in them be aimed for or avoided.