Improvements in Mindfulness, Interoceptive and Emotional Awareness, Emotion Regulation, and Inter-Personal Emotion Management Following Completion of an Online Emotional Skills Training Program
Ryan Smith, Michelle R. Persich, Anne E. Chuning, Sara Cloonan, Rebecca Woods-Lubert, Jeff Skalamera, Sarah M Berryhill, K. Weihs, Rosanne Lane, John J. B. Allen, Natalie S Dailey, Anna Alkozei, J. Vanuk, William D. S. Killgore
Emotion August 3, 2023 DOI: 10.1037/emo0001237 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 448 |
| Population | Adults, predominantly female (323 of 448) |
| Intervention | Placebo control program |
| Duration | 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The online training program improved post-training scores on interoceptive and emotional awareness, mindfulness, emotion recognition, and emotion regulation strategies (including reduced emotion suppression and greater impulse control) relative to placebo among 326 completers. At 6-month follow-up in 94 participants, improvements were largely sustained in the training group while the placebo group declined, which the authors suggest may indicate a protective effect against emotional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Abstract
Socio-emotional skills, such as the ability to recognize, understand, and regulate the emotions of self and others, are associated with both physical and emotional health. The present study tested the effectiveness of a recently validated online training program for increasing these emotional skills in adults. In this study, 448 participants (323 female) were randomly assigned to complete this training program or a placebo control program. Among those who completed the training program or placebo (N = 326), the training program led to improved scores post-training on measures of interoceptive and emotional awareness, mindfulness, emotion recognition, and emotion regulation strategies (e.g., reduced emotion suppression and greater impulse control) relative to placebo. In a smaller group of participants who also completed a 6-month follow-up visit (N= 94), sustained improvements were observed on several measures in those who completed the training program, while the placebo group instead showed decreased performance. This suggested a potentially protective effect against emotional challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic occurring during this time. These results suggest that this online training program shows promise in improving emotional skills relevant to adaptive social and emotional functioning, and that it might be useful as an intervention within at-risk populations and those with emotional disorders associated with reduced application of these skills.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing February 5, 2020
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Workplace Mindfulness Training Randomized Controlled Trials Journal of Occupational Health Psychology February 1, 2019