scholarly journals Applying the S-ART Framework to Yoga: Exploring the Self-Regulatory Action of Yoga Practice in Two Culturally Diverse Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Tolbaños-Roche ◽  
Praseeda Menon

Mindfulness practices form the core of numerous therapeutic programs and interventions for stress reduction and the treatment of different health conditions related to stress and life habits. Ways and means to regulate oneself effectively also form the foundation of the path of yoga in the accomplishment of holistic health and well-being. The self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) model can be considered as an overarching neurobiological framework to explain the self-regulatory mechanisms of well-being present in mindfulness-based practices. The current study, by connecting and applying the S-ART framework to the self-regulatory mechanisms in yoga and generating related hypotheses, provides a theory-led explanation of the action of yoga practices, which is sparse in the literature. Testing the S-ART model in yoga in two culturally diverse samples, assessing the model-mapped psychological mechanisms of action, and exploring the influence of perseverance in yoga practice are the original contributions of this study. The study sample comprised 362 yoga practitioners and non-practitioners (197 Indian and 165 Spanish), who completed four tests of psychological variables indicative of the aforementioned three S-ART abilities. These tests were Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Experiences Questionnaire-Decentering (EQ-D) subscale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Relational Compassion Scale (RCS). The results indicated significantly better self-awareness and self-regulatory abilities in yoga practitioners (Indian and Spanish in a combination) than non-practitioners, reflected in higher levels of interoceptive awareness and decentering abilities. Moreover, perseverance in yoga practice acted as a significant predictor of self-awareness and self-regulation in practitioners. An analysis of each cultural sample revealed some differences. Yoga practice and perseverance in it acted as a significant predictor of interoceptive awareness and decentering in Indian practitioners having more than 1 year of sustained yoga practice, but for the Spanish participants, physical exercise and frequency of yoga practice acted as better predictors of interoceptive awareness and decentering in comparison to yoga practice and perseverance in it. The obtained results suggested that the S-ART model provided preliminary but promising evidence for the self-regulatory mechanisms of action in yoga practice within a culturally diverse sample of yoga practitioners. This study also widens the scope of generating further hypotheses using the S-ART theoretical framework for testing the self-regulatory mechanisms of action in yoga practice.

Author(s):  
P. Sevostianov

 The article is devoted to the substructures of the personal component of individual experience research. In the framework of theoretical analysis, the structural organization of individual experience is reviewed. The author's position consists in sticking to the O.M. Laktionov three-component model of the experience. During the theoretical analysis contemporary studies devoted to the study of individual experience are reviewed. Several substructures of the personal component of individual experience, that require attentive study, are defined. The self-concept notion is analyzed. For the first time, an analysis of the features of relationship between the feeling of self-concept well-being and the personal experience substructures are presented. The analysis, described in this article, is a continuation of the research, which devoted to the study of self-concept in the framework of the structure of the students` personal component of individual experience, during which on the basis of analysis the substructures of personal experience formation features the self-concept profiles were received. Four self-concept profiles were taken into consideration out of the results of the study: the "Conflict profile": persons for whom the simultaneous inclusion of the prosperous and problematic types of self-perception is inherent; "Prosperous profile": persons for whom the prosperous self-concept perception, that combines with low level of problem self-concept perception, is inherent; "Tendency to well-being": persons who are characterized by the tendency to decrease the negative evaluation of their self-concept, having the average indicators of their self-concept well-being; "Tendency to conflict": individuals, who are characterized by average indicators of their self-concept perception in a problematic context in a tendency to decrease the assessment of their self-concept well-being. Directly in the course of the work, described in the article, a comparative analysis of students with different profiles was performed, that was based on the degree of representation of individual experience personal component substructures. The comparison was made using the rank criterion of Kruskal-Wallis. During the comparison, the following results were obtained: for the students with different self-concept profiles was not revealed any differences in the indicators of self-esteem, neuroticism, extraversion, cooperation, conscientiousness, planning self-regulation, self-regulation flexibility, goal purpose in life orientation, and such values as conformance, traditions, kindness, universality and security. Openness to experience, modeling, results estimation, independence, general level of self-regulation, process and result orientation, locus of control myself, general life meaningfulness and independence as a value were the most expressive for students with a prosperous self-concept profile, and the least expressive – for students with a conflict profile and profile with a tendency to conflict. Programming, as well as the stimulation, achievement and power values were the most expressive for the students with a tendency to a prosperous self-perception. The locus of life control and hedonism as the value was found the most expressive among the students with a tendency to a conflict in their own self-perception; the least expressive it was for students with a prosperous profile.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Garcia ◽  
Alexander Jimmefors ◽  
Lillemor Adrianson ◽  
Fariba Mousavi ◽  
Patricia Rosenberg ◽  
...  

Background: Education plays an important role on a personal level because it is related to personal control, a healthy lifestyle, greater income, employment, interpersonal relations, and social support (Mirowsky & Ross, 2003). Self-regulation is the procedure implemented by an individual striving to reach a goal and consists of two inter-related strategies: (1) the identification of the desired out-come and the appraisal of procedures to reach the desired goal (i.e., assessment), and (2) the selection between available approaches to reach the goal and the commitment to the chosen approaches until the goal is reached (i.e., locomotion) (Kruglanski et al, 2000). Self-regulation plays an essential role in academic achievement (Kruglanski et al 1994, 2000). Psychological well-being is a multi-faceted concept composed of six different intra-personal characteristics that describe the fully functional individual (Ryff, 1989). These factors are: positive relationships with others, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, autonomy, purpose in life, and personal growth. We aimed to study the relationship between academic achievement and self-regulation and psychological well-being in Swedish high school pupils. Method: Participants were 160 Swedish high school pupils (111 boys and 49 girls) with an age mean of 17.74 (sd = 1.29). We used the Assessment and Locomotion Scales (Kruglanski et al., 2000) to measure self-regulation and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales short version (Clark et al., 2001) to measure well-being. Academic achievement was operationalized through pupils’ final grades in Swedish, Mathematics, English, and Physical Education. The courses take place during either one or two semesters and the grading scale ranges from F = fail to A = pass with distinction. Results: Final grades in Swedish were positively related to two psychological well-being scales: self-acceptance and personal growth; and to the self-regulation strategy of assessment. Final grades in Mathematics were positively related to three psychological well-being scales: self-acceptance, autonomy, and personal growth; and also to assessment. Final grades in English were positively related to one psychological well-being scale: personal growth; and also to assessment. Final grades in Physical Education were positively related to four psychological well-being scales: environmental mastery, self-acceptance, autonomy, and personal growth; and also to the self-regulation strategy of locomotion. Conclusions: A profile consisting of assessment orientation combined with self-acceptance and personal growth leads to the best study results. This understanding is important when supporting pupils in achieving the best possible results in school and thus lay the formation for a continued successful life.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205
Author(s):  
Shana Haines ◽  
Kelly Clark/Keefe ◽  
Alan Tinker ◽  
Alyssa Kotsiopoulos ◽  
Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin ◽  
...  

This case study describes how a high-poverty, linguistically and culturally diverse elementary school came to embed mindfulness in its curriculum and what adults perceived to be the outcomes of the program on students’ well-being. This qualitative case study is based on 25 interviews with teachers, administrators, and community members; classroom observations; and relevant documents. Participants indicated that practicing mindfulness improved student well-being through greater self-awareness and increased ability to articulate their emotions and needs, select strategies to self-regulate, and generalize their practice of mindfulness to out-of-school settings. Implications for practice and research are discussed.


The article contains a theoretical analysis of the personal component of individual experience, namely, its components, which most fully describe the features of its organization, are singled out. The analysis was based on the A.N. Laktionov individual experience concept, suggesting the presence of personal, social and mnemic components. During the consideration of the personal component, its analysis was made in three aspects: the interpretation of oneself, the interpretation of others, and the interpretation of the surrounding world. The components of the personal component of individual experience are meaningfully defined: in the aspect of self-interpretation, self-esteem, self-regulation and the Self-concept; in the aspect of interpreting others, the values and the Self-concept; in the aspect of the interpretation of the world - values and lifemeaning orientations. Each of the components separately considered in the framework of various concepts. As a result, a separate attention was paid to the theory: self-regulation by V. Morosanova; the meaning of the life of V. Frankl, supplemented by D. Leontiev; the Self-concept of V. Stolin and the values of S. Schwartz and W. Bilski. The concept of the the Self-concept was also proposed as a generalization of ideas about one’s own well-being as a representative characteristic of the personal component of individual experience, which was introduced due to the need to embrace the problem of dispersal of experience over time. Personal theories for their compliance with the characteristics of the study of personal experience, including both domestic and foreign, are considered. Facts are given that indicate that the integration of the concepts of Aysenck, Allport and Cattell could create one of the most relevant conceptual foundations for the study of personal experience. It was concluded that the most appropriate holistic theory, within which the personal component of individual experience can be investigated, is the theory of the Big Five, which, while fully describing the personality as a whole, makes a separate emphasis on the attitude of the person to his own experience.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Bornemann ◽  
Beate M. Herbert ◽  
Tania Singer

Interoceptive body awareness (IA) is crucial for psychological well-being and plays an important role in many contemplative traditions. However, until recently, standardized self-report measures of IA were scarce, not comprehensive, and the effects of interoceptive training on such measures were largely unknown. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire measures IA with eight different scales. In the current study, we investigated whether and how these different aspects of IA are influenced by a 3-months contemplative intervention in the context of the ReSource project, in which 148 subjects engaged in daily practices of “Body Scan” and “Breath Meditation.” We developed a German version of the MAIA and tested it in a large and diverse sample (n = 1,076). Internal consistencies were similar to the English version (0.56– 0.89), retest reliability was high (r s: 0.66–0.79), and the MAIA showed good convergent and discriminant validity. Importantly, interoceptive training improved five out of eight aspects of IA, compared to a retest control group. Participants with low IA scores at baseline showed the biggest changes. Whereas practice duration only weakly predicted individual differences in change, self-reported liking of the practices and degree of integration into daily life predicted changes on most scales. Interestingly, the magnitude of observed changes varied across scales. The strongest changes were observed for the regulatory aspects of IA, that is, how the body is used for self-regulation in daily life. No significant changes were observed for the Noticing aspect (becoming aware of bodily changes), which is the aspect that is predominantly assessed in other IA measures. This differential pattern underscores the importance to assess IA multi-dimensionally, particularly when interested in enhancement of IA through contemplative practice or other mind–body interventions.


Author(s):  
Markus Quirin ◽  
Mattie Tops ◽  
Julius Kuhl

In humanistic psychology, autonomy, internalization, and the self constitute fundamental concepts to explain adaptive behavior and well-being. However, the momentary mental processes, their interactions, and individual differences that constitute a causal fundament for these concepts are yet underexplored. The authors will analyze these processes against the backdrop of a functional approach, Personality Systems Interactions Theory, which conceives the self as one out of several neurocognitive systems and highlights its role for autonomous motivation and self-regulation. We attempt to provide answers to questions such as the following: Which momentary mental processes and underlying neurocognitive systems (e.g., large-scale brain networks) facilitate the establishment of stages of internalization? Can the self become inhibited in a way that even highly internalized goals and values may not manifest in behavior? Which role does the self play in emotion regulation and decision-making, and how do these processes in turn facilitate autonomous behavior? The authors believe that the present functional analysis advances a conciliation between a phenomenologically-oriented, humanities view and a process-oriented natural science view on human motivation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-208
Author(s):  
Kelly S. Witte ◽  
Teri J. Hepler ◽  
Tiffany Morton

This study was designed to give coaches insight into the motivation, and self-determination of players who have different roles on the team to ultimately assist with recruiting, retention, coaching preferences, and/or leadership adjustments. The purpose of this project was to examine what motivates and drives NCAA Division III female basketball athletes to compete and continue to work hard every day without the incentive of scholarships. Specifically, we compared the motivation (both intrinsic and extrinsic) and self-determination of players in different roles: starters, substitutes, and “benchwarmers.” Female intercollegiate basketball players (N = 53) from 8 public universities participated in the study. At the end of the season, participants completed a survey addressing their motivation and self-determination in basketball. Motivation and self-determination were measured by modified versions of the Self-Regulation Questionnaire- Exercise and the Self-Determination Scale, respectively. Moreover, based on the self-reported average playing time, participants were categorized as starters (20 or more minutes), subs (6-20 minutes), or benchwarmers (0-5 minutes). The three playing status groups were then compared on various aspects of motivation and self-determination. In terms of motivation, benchwarmers tended to score higher than starters and subs on items most related to intrinsic motivation (e.g., intrinsic motivation, identified regulation). However a one-way MANOVA indicated no significant differences in motivation based on playing status, F (8, 94) = 1.13, p = .35. The means of the benchwarmers, subs, and starters were quite similar on the selfdetermination subscales of perceived choice and self-awareness. Likewise, the results of a oneway MANOVA revealed no significant differences between benchwarmers, subs, and starters in perceived choice or self-awareness, F (4, 98) = 0.58, p = .68. While no significant statistical differences were discovered, bench warmers did tend to score higher on intrinsic motivation than did their counterparts who averaged more playing time. This trend should not be overlooked simply because there were no statistically significant differences, which may be due to a small sample size. Understanding what motivates all athletes regardless of playing status is an important step to improving performance, satisfaction, and retention of Division III athletes. For instance, knowing what drives the benchwarmer is important for coaches because these players are responsible for challenging the starters in practice and preparing them for the other team. Likewise, benchwarmers also act as an important source of support during competition. Moreover, coaches should seek opportunities to enhance the intrinsic motivation of subs and starters, as participating in Division III lacks some of the major external rewards such as scholarships and other incentives that come with playing at Division I or II.


Biofeedback ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 158-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari K. Swingle

As technologies become increasingly integrated in all aspects of culture, we may be losing our therapeutic pulse on how important true face-to-face and heart-to-heart relationships are to our personal and collective well-being. Social isolation and excessive utilization of i-technology appear to contribute to the development or maintenance of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and ADHD. Human engagement risks being eclipsed by the novelty and excitement of the digital age. Current practice indicates that there are potentially positive and even therapeutic applications of technologies for betterment and healing, but that we should be selective in our applications.


Author(s):  
Sarah Stewart-Brown

Resilience and well-being are relatively new to public health and psychiatry, and the research that underpins the concepts is often found in the publications of other disciplines—psychology, neuroscience, physiology, and philosophy. This chapter argues, using ideas from a range of disciplines, that resilience and well-being are integrally linked in that resilience is a product, a marker, and a developer of mental well-being. A level of well-being commensurate with a particular challenge enables a resilient response, and by enabling development in the face of the challenge, resilience enhances well-being. Both resilience and well-being are developmental and the key to successful development is a sensitive, attuned, and trusting relationship, which conditions the self-regulation response. Approaches to enhancing resilience and well-being are therefore very similar. They start with relational support in infancy and childhood, and carry on throughout the life course, with activities and programmes that support the development of self–regulation.


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