The Effect of a Brief Mindfulness Training on Distress Tolerance and Stress Reactivity.
Joseph K. Carpenter, Jenny Sanford, Stefan G Hofmann
Behavior Therapy May 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2018.10.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 107 |
| Population | Undergraduates naive to mindfulness |
| Intervention | Brief mindfulness training |
| Dose | 15-minute mindfulness training |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Distress tolerance Mediation Moderation |
| Key findings | A 15-minute mindfulness training increased task persistence on a hyperventilation challenge and reduced the urge to neutralize an upsetting sentence relative to a relaxing-music control, with no effect on distress ratings. Overall trait mindfulness did not moderate persistence, though lower 'act with awareness' scores predicted greater benefit on the hyperventilation task. The authors suggest mindfulness can increase distress tolerance without altering the subjective experience of distress. |
Abstract
Poor distress tolerance (DT) is considered an underlying facet of anxiety, depression, and a number of other psychological disorders. Mindfulness may help to increase DT by fostering an attitude of acceptance or nonjudgment toward distressing experiences. Accordingly, the present study examined the effects of a brief mindfulness training on tolerance of different types of distress, and tested whether trait mindfulness moderates the effect of such training. Undergraduates (n = 107) naïve to mindfulness completed a measure of trait mindfulness and underwent a series of stress tasks (cold pressor, hyperventilation challenge, neutralization task) before and after completing a 15-minute mindfulness training or a no-instruction control in which participants listened to relaxing music. Participants in the mindfulness condition demonstrated greater task persistence on the hyperventilation task compared to the control group, as well as a decreased urge to neutralize the effects of writing an upsetting sentence. No effect on distress ratings during the tasks were found. Overall trait mindfulness did not significantly moderate task persistence, but those with lower scores on the act with awareness facet of mindfulness demonstrated greater relative benefit of mindfulness training on the hyperventilation challenge. Mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects of mindfulness training on cold pressor task persistence and urges to neutralize through the use of the nonjudge and nonreact facets of mindfulness. These results suggest that a brief mindfulness training can increase DT without affecting the subjective experience of distress.
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
Cited by 19
- Mental and physical training with meditation and aerobic exercise improved mental health and well-being in teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Human Neuroscience August 23, 2022
- Effect of a single session of yoga and meditation on stress reactivity: A systematic review. Stress and Health June 1, 2024
- Distress tolerance as a mediator of mindfulness-based intervention for anxiety and depression: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials. International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2024
- How does mindfulness skills training work to improve emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation September 2, 2024
- A Digital Music-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Black Americans With Elevated Race-Based Anxiety: A Multiple-Baseline Pilot Study. JMIR Formative Research August 16, 2023
and 14 more in the library
Cites 9
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- The moderation of Mindfulness‐based stress reduction effects by trait mindfulness: Results from a randomized controlled trial Journal of Clinical Psychology December 22, 2010
- The “What” and the “How” of Dispositional Mindfulness Assessment May 14, 2012
- Ruminative and mindful self-focused attention in borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment October 11, 2011
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