Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Promotes Positivity in the Face of Emotional Ambiguity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Harp ◽  
Jonathan B. Freeman ◽  
Maital Neta
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Single Class ◽  
The Face ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Emotional Bias

Reducing negative impacts of stress benefits physical and psychological well-being. Mindfulness training is one well-known method for reducing stress responses and is associated with reductions in self-reported negative affect, but essentially no research has targeted behavioral outcomes of emotional processes throughout long-term mindfulness trainings. For example, responses to emotionally ambiguous signals (e.g., surprised expressions), which might be interpreted as either positive or negative, offer unique leverage for assessing the effects of mindfulness on emotional bias. Here, we directly compared the effects of short- and long-term training via Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on ratings of faces with a relatively clear (angry, happy) and ambiguous (surprised) valence. Ratings became more positive for surprised faces from the start (Week 1) to end of training (Week 8; p < .001), but there were no short-term (from a single class session) effects. Notably, this shift towards positivity continued through an additional eight-week follow-up (Week 16; p< .001). Finally, post-training valence bias (Week 8) was uniquely predicted by non-reactivity rather than any other mindfulness facet (p = .01). Thus, mindfulness appears to promote a relatively long-lasting shift toward positivity in the face of emotional ambiguity, which is uniquely supported by reduced emotional reactivity.

scholarly journals Stand against anti-Asian racial discrimination during COVID-19: A call for action

2020 ◽  
pp. 002087282097061
Author(s):  
Qin Gao ◽  
Xiaofang Liu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Political Rhetoric ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Negative Impacts

Racial discrimination against people of Chinese and other Asian ethnicities has risen sharply in number and severity globally amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise has been especially rapid and severe in the United States, fueled by xenophobic political rhetoric and racist language on social media. It has endangered the lives of many Asian Americans and is likely to have long-term negative impacts on the economic, social, physical, and psychological well-being of Asian Americans. This essay reviews the prevalence and consequences of anti-Asian racial discrimination during COVID-19 and calls for actions in practice, policy, and research to stand against it.

Rolling out a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for parents of children with ADHD: a feasibility study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
R. Rice ◽  
A. Ni Bhearra ◽  
K. Kilbride ◽  
C. Lynch ◽  
F. McNicholas
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Parental Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
The Social ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Frequent Reason

Background: Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the single most frequent reason for attendance at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland. Research has suggested that parents of children with ADHD experience more parenting stress than parents of non-clinical controls, yet routine treatment for ADHD rarely addresses parental well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to result in a reduction in parental stress. Method: An adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention was delivered to parents (n = 23) of children with ADHD recruited from CAMHS and ADHD Ireland. Results: Following the intervention a significant improvement was documented within the social relationships domain of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and a significant reduction on the child hyperactivity scale of the Strengths and Difficulties (SDQ) questionnaire. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that an MBSR intervention is both feasible and effective for parents whose children have ADHD. Larger scale studies need to be conducted before inclusion in routine CAMHS.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with chronic diseases

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Merkes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
The Impact

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a structured group program that uses mindfulness meditation to improve well-being and alleviate suffering. This article reviews the impact of MBSR for people with chronic diseases. The review includes original research that was published in English and peer-reviewed and reported outcomes for adults with chronic diseases who had participated in an MBSR program. Fifteen studies were identified. Outcomes related to mental and physical health, well-being, and quality of life. The studies included different research designs, and used self-report and physiological outcome measures. Participants’ clinical diagnoses included fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and cardiovascular diagnoses. All 15 studies found that participation in an MBSR program resulted in improvements. No negative change was reported between baseline and follow up. Outcomes in regard to specific variables were difficult to compare and equivocal. Overall, positive change predominated. Chronic diseases are associated with a range of unwelcome psychological and physical consequences. Participation in an MBSR program is likely to result in coping better with symptoms, improved overall well-being and quality of life, and enhanced health outcomes. As an adjunct to standard care, MBSR has potential for much wider application in Australian primary care settings.

scholarly journals A vulnerable age group: the impact of cancer on the psychosocial well-being of young adult childhood cancer survivors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. E. van Erp ◽  
H. Maurice-Stam ◽  
L. C. M. Kremer ◽  
W. J. E. Tissing ◽  
H. J. H. van der Pal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Psychosocial Outcomes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Time Since Diagnosis

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to increase our understanding of the psychosocial well-being of young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCS) as well as the positive and negative impacts of cancer. Methods YACCS (aged 18–30, diagnosed ≤ 18, time since diagnosis ≥ 5 years) cross-sectionally filled out the “Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Young Adults” (PedsQL-YA), “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS), and “Checklist Individual Strengths” (CIS-20R) to measure fatigue and survivor-specific “Impact of Cancer - Childhood Survivors” (IOC-CS), which measures the long-term impact of childhood cancer in several domains. Descriptive statistics (IOC-CS), logistic regression (HADS, CIS-20R), and ANOVA (PedsQL-YA, HADS, CIS-20R) were performed. Associations between positive and negative impacts of childhood cancer and psychosocial outcomes were examined with linear regression analyses. Results YACCS (N = 151, 61.6% female, mean age 24.1 ± 3.6, mean time since diagnosis 13.6 ± 3.8) reported lower HRQOL (− .4 ≤ d ≤ − .5, p ≤ .001) and more anxiety (d = .4, p ≤ .001), depression (d = .4, p ≤ .01), and fatigue (.3 ≤ d ≤ .5, p ≤ .001) than young adults from the general Dutch population. They were at an increased risk of experiencing (sub)clinical anxiety (OR = 1.8, p = .017). YACCS reported more impact on scales representing a positive rather than negative impact of CC. Various domains of impact of childhood cancer were related to psychosocial outcomes, especially “Life Challenges” (HRQOL β = − .18, anxiety β = .36, depression β = .29) and “Body & Health” (HRQOL β = .27, anxiety β = − .25, depression β = − .26, fatigue β = − .47). Conclusion YACCS are vulnerable to psychosocial difficulties, but they also experience positive long-term impacts of childhood cancer. Positive and negative impacts of childhood cancer were associated with psychosocial outcomes in YACCS. Screening of psychosocial outcomes and offering targeted interventions are necessary to optimize psychosocial long-term follow-up care for YACCS.

scholarly journals Recognizing the role of victim supports in building and maintaining healthy and safe communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Sarah Johnston-Way ◽  
Sue O’Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Safety Strategies ◽  
Victims Of Crime ◽  
Negative Impacts

The effects of crime can persist for years and can have life-long implications for some victims. The physical and emotional impact, alongside practical problems, point to the need for the rehabilitation of victims and their families in order to avoid or mitigate some of the long-term negative impacts of crime and, in so doing, contribute significantly to community well-being. The meaningful integration of assistance and supports for victims of crime into community safety strategies can contribute not only to increased public safety, but also to a host of other positive outcomes such as considerable cost savings, improvements in public health, and increased confidence in the criminal justice system. Currently, available research and metrics highlighting these linkages remain scarce, pointing to an important opportunity to strengthen the availability of data and research related to the experience of victimization and the impacts and outcomes of interventions with victims of crime. This paper explores the contribution of providing victim supports for building and maintaining healthy and safe communities, and will identify possible research directions to strengthen understanding in this area.

scholarly journals Globalization and Biodiversity Conservation Problems: Polycentric REDD+ Solutions

Land ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mwangi Githiru ◽  
Josephine Njambuya
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Great Chance ◽  
Free Rider Problem ◽  
The Face ◽  
Negative Impacts

Protected areas are considered the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation, but face multiple problems in delivering this core objective. The growing trend of framing biodiversity and protected area values in terms of ecosystem services and human well-being may not always lead to biodiversity conservation. Although globalization is often spoken about in terms of its adverse effects to the environment and biodiversity, it also heralds unprecedented and previously inaccessible opportunities linked to ecosystem services. Biodiversity and related ecosystem services are amongst the common goods hardest hit by globalization. Yet, interconnectedness between people, institutions, and governments offers a great chance for globalization to play a role in ameliorating some of the negative impacts. Employing a polycentric governance approach to overcome the free-rider problem of unsustainable use of common goods, we argue here that REDD+, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate change mitigation scheme, could be harnessed to boost biodiversity conservation in the face of increasing globalization, both within classic and novel protected areas. We believe this offers a timely example of how an increasingly globalized world connects hitherto isolated peoples, with the ability to channel feelings and forces for biodiversity conservation. Through the global voluntary carbon market, REDD+ can enable and empower, on the one hand, rural communities in developing countries contribute to mitigation of a global problem, and on the other, individuals or societies in the West to help save species they may never see, yet feel emotionally connected to.

Personality as a predictor of well-being in a randomized trial of a mindfulness-based stress reduction of Danish women with breast cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina H. Jagielski ◽  
Diane C. Tucker ◽  
Susanne O. Dalton ◽  
Sylvie Mrug ◽  
Hanne Würtzen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
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