Abstract
Purpose
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a well-known method for reducing stress and negative affect. Recently, a small, open-label trial showed that MBSR training was associated with a shift toward more positive responses to emotionally ambiguous signals (e.g., surprised expressions that convey either positive or negative meaning).
Methods
Here, we test whether the MBSR-induced shift in responses to emotional ambiguity reported previously is accompanied by a reduction in self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms (n = 42).
Results
In support of our hypothesis, we found that the degree to which individuals’ post-training responses to emotional ambiguity became more positive was associated with the degree of reduction in post-training depression and anxiety symptoms (i.e., post-training symptoms controlling for pre-training symptoms; ps = 0.001). Importantly, the effect remains significant even when accounting for increases in self-reported mindfulness.
Conclusions
Altogether, the results suggest that shifts in valence bias and reductions in internalizing symptoms track one another following MBSR, warranting future randomized, mechanistic investigations.
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Data and/or code availability
Data and/or code availability: Data cannot be shared publicly because the participants consented to the report of the data in terms of group means and not individualized data. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institutional Review Board completed review of the original research protocol including data sharing restrictions. Data requests can be sent to the current contracts manager in the Office of Sponsored Programs at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. All data sharing requests are first subject to a contract agreement through the Office of Sponsored Programs. Analysis code and stimuli lists are available on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/3n578/).
Notes
Consistent with our prior report using a slightly larger sample (Harp et al., 2022), two-tailed paired t-tests revealed no evidence of change in valence bias for session one vs. two (t(35) = 0.71, p = .48) and session three vs. four (t(30) = -0.82, p = .42).
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Acknowledgements
We thank Hedy Kober for constructive comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. We also thank Catherine C. Brown for assistance contacting MBSR instructors, as well as Jonathan B. Freeman and his research team, especially Hayoung Woo and Benjamin Barnett, for assistance with data collection.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIMH111640; PI: Maital Neta), National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32 DA022975; Trainee: Nicholas R. Harp), Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Enhancement Funds, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln ENHANCE College of Arts & Sciences funds.
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Conceptualization: N. R. Harp, M. Neta, and R. J. R. Blair. Methodology: N. R. Harp and M. Neta. Formal Analysis: N. R. Harp. Investigation: N. R. Harp. Original Draft Preparation: N. R. Harp. Reviewing and Editing: N. R. Harp, M. Neta, and R. J. R. Blair.
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Harp, N.R., Blair, R.J.R. & Neta, M. Shift in Valence Bias Associated with Decrease in Trait Anxiety and Depression Symptoms. Cogn Ther Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10437-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10437-x