Recalibrating stress regulation through mindfulness: a framework for adapting interventions for ACE-affected populations
Natalie R. Beylin, Matthew J. Zawadzki
Frontiers in Psychology April 10, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1801095 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Process computing Reciprocal Conceptual framework Conceptual model Intervention counseling Adaptation eye Stress linguistics Cognitive psychology Developmental psychology Psychotherapist Metacognition Applied psychology Mechanism biology Emotional regulation |
| Key points | Proposes that mindfulness practice for individuals with histories of adverse childhood experiences should be understood as an experience-dependent process of biopsychological recalibration rather than solely cognitive-affective skill acquisition. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are widely used to promote psychological and physical health, yet their efficacy among individuals with histories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been mixed. While most conceptualizations attribute the cultivation of nonjudgmental awareness as a primary mechanism of MBI-related benefits, individuals with stress-regulatory systems that were shaped by early life stress may have trouble engaging with such practices. To address this, this paper proposes the Mindfulness Recalibration Model (MRM), a theoretically grounded framework that reconceptualizes mindfulness practice as an experience-dependent process of biopsychological recalibration rather than solely the acquisition of cognitive-affective skills. The MRM highlights the distinct yet complementary roles of somatic mindfulness practices, which directly engage physiological regulation primarily through a bottom-up pathway, and cognitive-affective mindfulness practices, which support attentional and regulatory control primarily through a top-down pathway, and emphasizes how their coordinated and reciprocal engagement reshapes stress-regulatory systems. The model further emphasizes the iterative and self-reinforcing nature of this recalibration process across temporal levels. By centering stress-system recalibration as the primary target of mindfulness practice for individuals with histories of ACEs, the MRM offers a unifying explanation for mixed findings in this literature and provides a conceptual roadmap for the development of interventions aligned with adversity-shaped regulatory systems.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 36
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
and 31 more in the library