Work

Elucidating the role of mind–body connection profiles in emotional reactivity and regulation amongst typically developed adults

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Adaptive emotional functioning necessitates a strong mind-body connection. The 13-item Body-Mind Connection Questionnaire (BMCQ) was developed to measure attention directed to sensations (Interoceptive Attention), identifying and describing sensations associated with emotions (Sensation-Emotion Articulation), and beliefs regarding mind-body integration and wellbeing (Body-Mind Values). This study aimed to (1) confirm and refine the BMCQ in a new sample of typically developed adults through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), (2) identify distinct mind-body connection profiles through latent profile analysis (LPA), and (3) explore the impact of these profiles on emotional reactivity and regulation. METHODS: = 7.98), who completed the BMCQ and the Multidimensional Emotion Questionnaire, assessing frequency, intensity, persistence, and regulation of positive and negative emotions, via an online survey. RESULTS: The CFA led to removal of three BMCQ items in the sample with no disorder, confirming a three-factor model with good fit (CFI: .98, TLI: .98, GFI: .97, RMSEA: .05, RMR: .08) observed, and reliable internal consistency for the scales (ɑ = 0.70 to 0.82), resulting in the BMCQ-10. LPA in the pooled sample revealed three mind-body connection profiles: Strong Mind-Body Connection, Weak Mind-Body Connection, and Mind-Body Disconnection. The Strong Mind Body Connection profile reported more frequent, intense, and persistent positive emotions and found regulating positive and negative emotions the easiest. Conversely, the Weak Mind-Body Connection profile reported less frequent, intense positive emotions, and greater regulation difficulties. The Mind-Body Disconnection profile reported the least intense positive emotions and, with a psychological disorder present, found regulating emotions easier than both the Strong and Weak profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The refined BMCQ-10 holds promise as an efficient measure of salient mind-body connection constituents. Findings underscore the nuanced, significant within-group variability that exists amongst mind-body connection beliefs, emotional reactivity, and ease of regulating emotions. Targeted interventions for persons with particular mind-body connection profiles (for example, mindfulness) may be effective avenues for enhancing adaptive beliefs which may promote the cultivation of positive emotions and improve emotion regulation in clinical and non-clinical groups.

Source: BMC Psychology

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-03083-3

Authors: Kristen Van Bael, Jessica Scarfo, Emra Suleyman, Michelle Ball

Institution: Victoria University

Language: English

Topic: Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,990