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Dietrich Student KM, Bidart MG. Effects of a mindfulness course on vital signs and five facet mindfulness questionnaire scores of college students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024; 72:905-913. [PMID: 35549653 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2060709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the effects of a college mindfulness course on vital-signs and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) scores. Participants: Two independent groups of 20 students were enrolled in the mindfulness course during the Fall 2018 (Trial 1) and Spring 2019 (Trial 2) semesters. Methods: Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate were recorded before and after in-class mindfulness meditations several times throughout each semester. FFMQ scores were recorded at the beginning and conclusion of each semester. Results: Statistical analyses indicated that 20 minutes of mindfulness meditation significantly decreased respiration rate (both trials) and heart rate (Trial 2) for female students. There were significant changes in the FFMQ mean scores for "non-react," "observe," "act aware," and "non-judge." Conclusions: These results suggest that mindfulness meditation may be beneficial for students to enhance their well-being. Recommendations are provided to further examine the implications of consistent mindfulness practices for college students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Gabriela Bidart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
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Torske A, Bremer B, Hölzel BK, Maczka A, Koch K. Mindfulness meditation modulates stress-eating and its neural correlates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7294. [PMID: 38538663 PMCID: PMC10973375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57687-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress-related overeating can lead to excessive weight gain, increasing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Mindfulness meditation has been demonstrated to reduce stress and increase interoceptive awareness and could, therefore, be an effective intervention for stress-related overeating behavior. To investigate the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress-eating behavior, meditation-naïve individuals with a tendency to stress-eat (N = 66) participated in either a 31-day, web-based mindfulness meditation training or a health training condition. Behavioral and resting-state fMRI data were acquired before and after the intervention. Mindfulness meditation training, in comparison to health training, was found to significantly increase mindfulness while simultaneously reducing stress- and emotional-eating tendencies as well as food cravings. These behavioral results were accompanied by functional connectivity changes between the hypothalamus, reward regions, and several areas of the default mode network in addition to changes observed between the insula and somatosensory areas. Additional changes between seed regions (i.e., hypothalamus and insula) and brain areas attributed to emotion regulation, awareness, attention, and sensory integration were observed. Notably, these changes in functional connectivity correlated with behavioral changes, thereby providing insight into the underlying neural mechanisms of the effects of mindfulness on stress-eating.Clinical trial on the ISRCTN registry: trial ID ISRCTN12901054.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Torske
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Benno Bremer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Britta Karen Hölzel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Maczka
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Koch
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
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Williams M, Honan C, Skromanis S, Sanderson B, Matthews AJ. Psychological and attentional outcomes following acute mindfulness induction among high anxiety individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 170:361-374. [PMID: 38215647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Training outcomes of mindfulness interventions for anxiety have been extensively researched. Less is known about the acute effects of mindfulness induction and associated mechanisms. This systematic review aimed to identify 1) the effect of mindfulness induction on pre-post measures of state anxiety and attention among adults experiencing high levels of anxiety; and 2) the impact of predictors, mediators and moderators on post-induction changes in anxiety and attention. State distress and mindfulness were included as secondary outcomes. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in November 2021 in electronic databases using relevant search terms. Five studies (four randomised controlled trials and one non-randomised controlled trial) were included, comprising a total of 277 participants with elevated trait/generalised anxiety. Each study used a brief audio-based mindfulness induction exercise. RESULTS The meta-analysis indicated mindfulness induction had medium and large effects on state anxiety (k = 3, n = 100, g = -0.60, 95%CI [-1.04, -0.16]; p = .008) and state mindfulness (k = 2, n = 110, g = 0.91, 95%CI [0.52, 1.30], p < .001), respectively, when compared with non-therapeutic control conditions. Furthermore, two studies showed small and moderate effects of mindfulness on state anxiety when compared to therapeutic active controls, but were not pooled in a meta-analysis. While results could not be pooled for attention, there was limited evidence of behavioural improvements on tasks measuring aspects of attention following mindfulness induction. However, one study found an increase in Low Beta to High Beta ratio and a reduction in Beta activity in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex following mindfulness induction. Moreover, another study found aspects of state mindfulness mediated reductions in state anxiety. LIMITATIONS A small number of studies were included in the review, with high risk of bias and low certainty of evidence present. CONCLUSION The findings support the use of mindfulness induction to reduce state anxiety in anxious individuals but suggest gains in state mindfulness may be a more realistic expected outcome. Further controlled trials are needed to delineate the relative effects of objectively assessed anxiety outcomes from mindfulness induction in clinically defined samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Williams
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7001.
| | - Cynthia Honan
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 7250
| | - Sarah Skromanis
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 7250
| | - Ben Sanderson
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7001
| | - Allison J Matthews
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7001
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Petrovic J, Bastien L, Mettler J, Heath NL. The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Induction as a Buffer Against Stress Among University Students With and Without a History of Self-Injury. Psychol Rep 2023; 126:2280-2302. [PMID: 35473432 PMCID: PMC10517589 DOI: 10.1177/00332941221089282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Stressful experiences are abundant in university and students with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) may be hyper-reactive to stress. While brief mindfulness inductions have been proposed as a buffer against acute stress, whether they function differently in students with a history of NSSI remains in question. This study sought to explore the impact of an online mindfulness induction on (a) two facets of state mindfulness (i.e., mind and body) and (b) state stress, following a stress induction task, in university students with versus without a history of NSSI. Participants were Canadian university students with (n = 82; Mage = 21.30 years, SD = 2.92; 87.8% female) and without (n = 82; Mage = 21.71 years, SD = 3.18; 87.8% female) a history of NSSI, matched on gender, age, and faculty, who completed baseline (T1) measures of state stress and state mindfulness. Participants were randomly assigned to complete a mindfulness induction or an active control task. All participants then underwent a stress induction, and again completed measures of state stress and state mindfulness (T2). Results from three-way mixed ANOVAs revealed that state stress increased from T1 to T2 for all participants, regardless of group or condition. Among those assigned to the control condition, state mindfulness of the body was lower at T2 for participants with a history of NSSI compared to those without such a history. However, participants with a history of NSSI who completed the mindfulness induction reported greater state mindfulness of the body at T2 than students with a history of NSSI who completed an active control task. Findings highlight the unique response of university students with a history of NSSI to a brief mindfulness induction. Implications are discussed in the context of future research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Petrovic
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laurianne Bastien
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jessica Mettler
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nancy L Heath
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Tapper K. Mindful eating: what we know so far. NUTR BULL 2022; 47:168-185. [DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katy Tapper
- Department of Psychology City, University of London London UK
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Krebs S, Moak E, Muhammadi S, Forbes D, Yeh MC, Leung MM. Testing the Feasibility and Potential Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Pilot Program in Urban School Youth. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063464. [PMID: 35329150 PMCID: PMC8950248 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could be effective in engaging children and reducing childhood obesity risk. The purpose of this study was to test feasibility, fidelity, and potential impact of a pilot MBI in urban school youth. A two-group quasi-experimental study was conducted in a Harlem, New York school. Participants comprised 51 students (ages 9–12, 54% female, 85% African American/Black). The experimental (E) group (n = 26) participated in a nine-session pilot MBI. Sessions were 90 min and offered weekly as part of afterschool programming. Children only attending during the school day comprised the control (C) group (n = 25). Process evaluation (e.g., fidelity, reach) was performed. Interviews with the E group were conducted to determine program acceptability. Mindful eating and resilience measures were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Intervention feasibility was high as the retention rate was 100% and fidelity was good as nine out of ten sessions were implemented. Relative to baseline, significant improvements were observed in the C group compared to the E group in the resilience composite score (p = 0.01) and its confidence domain (p = 0.01). A MBI may provide a unique opportunity to engage youth. However, further research is warranted to determine if a MBI could promote health in urban, school-age children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Krebs
- Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA; (S.K.); (M.-C.Y.)
| | - Emily Moak
- School of Public Health, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA; (E.M.); (S.M.)
| | - Shakiba Muhammadi
- School of Public Health, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA; (E.M.); (S.M.)
| | - David Forbes
- Urban Education Doctoral Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Ming-Chin Yeh
- Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA; (S.K.); (M.-C.Y.)
| | - May May Leung
- Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USA; (S.K.); (M.-C.Y.)
- Correspondence:
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Laughter therapy: A humor-induced hormonal intervention to reduce stress and anxiety. Curr Res Physiol 2021; 4:135-138. [PMID: 34642668 PMCID: PMC8496883 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonged pharmacological interventions have detrimental health consequences by developing drug tolerance or drug resistance, in addition to adverse drug events. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related stress has adversely affected the emotional and mental health aspects around the globe. Consequently, depression is growing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides specific pharmacological interventions, which if prolonged have detrimental health consequences, non-pharmacological interventions are needed to minimize the emotional burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Laughter therapy is a universal non-pharmacologic approach to reduce stress and anxiety. Therapeutic laughter is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and easily implementable intervention that can be used during this pandemic as a useful supplementary therapy to reduce the mental health burden. Laughter therapy can physiologically lessen the pro-stress factors and increase the mood-elevating anti-stress factors to reduce anxiety and depression. In this ongoing stressful period of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping necessary social distancing, it is important to create a cheerful environment that will facilitate laughter among the family, neighbor, and community to cope with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged pharmacological interventions have detrimental health consequences. Laughter therapy is a universal non-pharmacologic approach to reduce stress and anxiety. Therapeutic laughter is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and easily implementable intervention. Laughter therapy can be used during COVID-19 pandemic as a useful supplementary therapy to reduce the mental health burden.
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