An investigation into the effects of a short-term mindfulness intervention on stress and emotion regulation in undergraduate students: Understanding mechanisms of action
Year: 2012
Type: other
Abstract: Stress and poor emotion regulation (ER) strategies are two factors that negatively influence the psychological well-being of students. Mindfulness has been shown to enhance stress and ER in a student population; however the mechanisms by which it exerts its positive effects remain unclear. \nThirty-four undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness condition or an active control condition to investigate whether a short-term mindfulness intervention would improve trait mindfulness, stress and ER over a four week period. \nDespite experiencing no significant changes in stress, the mindfulness condition experienced significant increases in trait mindfulness and significant decreases in difficulties in ER from pre-post intervention. No significant changes in any of the variables were found for the control condition. \nER was also found to mediate between mindfulness and stress in the final week, suggesting that ER is one mechanism of action by which mindfulness improves well-being. \nThe current study therefore offers promising theoretical directions, however the efficacy of short-term interventions needs further delineation.
Author: Lauren Armstrong
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2402235070