Date of Award

1-1-2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Psychology

Content Description

1 online resource (vii, 166 pages) : illustrations

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

John P. Forsyth

Committee Members

Julia Hormes, Georg Eifert

Keywords

acceptance, emotion regulation, experiential avoidance, mindfulness meditation, Mindfulness (Psychology), Meditation, Avoidance (Psychology), Emotions, Neuropsychology

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation (MM) has gained attention from the mainstream media and scientific communities due to its benefits in ameliorating psychological suffering, aiding in the treatment of physical conditions, and promoting well-being. However, a growing body of research suggests that MM may also produce unintended, adverse effects. Research in emotion regulation suggests that how people use MM may be critical in understanding both the benefits and iatrogenic effects of such practices. Emotion regulation science suggests that efforts to avoid, suppress, or otherwise control unwanted internal experiences are ineffective long-term strategies and can backfire, thus potentiating psychological distress. Conversely, acceptance of difficult internal experiences has been found to reduce psychological and emotional distress, promote engagement in meaningful life activities, and increase well-being. Bridging MM and emotional regulation science, the present research aimed to evaluate whether intentions guiding MM impact psychological and emotional outcomes in an undergraduate sample. Meditation-naïve undergraduates (N = 73) were randomized to one of two MM conditions (experiential control [n = 47] or acceptance [n = 26]) and then completed a 10-minute MM daily for two weeks. A battery of psychometrically-sound measures and idiographic items spanning psychological, emotional, and process domains was administered pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Results showed that regardless of condition, participants improved on numerous indices of distress and wellbeing from pre- to post-meditation. Results further suggest that participants in the acceptance condition had greater and more rapid reductions in anxiety, stress, and negative affect relative to their experiential control counterparts. Discussion expands on findings in terms of their relevance for the practice of meditation in psychotherapy and in daily life.

Download

Share

COinS