Top

Gepubliceerd in:

26-03-2024 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Facing Obstacles with Equanimity: Trait Equanimity Attenuates the Positive Relations Between Values Obstruction and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Auteurs: Aidan Smyth, Catherine Juneau, Seonwoo Hong, Michael John Ilagan, Bärbel Knäuper

Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 4/2024

Abstract

Objectives

Previous research consistently indicates that individuals who experience greater obstruction to valued living report higher levels of psychological distress and are at greater risk of developing mental health problems. Equanimity, which involves a calm and balanced mental attitude towards all experiences, is thought to protect against psychopathology and may be particularly helpful for navigating obstacles to valued living. The present research examined dispositional equanimity as a moderator of the positive relations between values obstruction and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Method

Participants completed measures related to equanimity (Even-mindedness subscale of the Two-Factor Equanimity Scale; Equanimity Scale-16), values obstruction (Valuing Questionnaire), and psychological distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales). The final sample consisted of 368 American adults (51% women, age range = 18–82 years).

Results

As hypothesized, trait equanimity moderated the positive relations between values obstruction and all three indicators of psychological distress, such that the positive relations were attenuated when individuals reported higher levels of equanimity. Results were consistent across two recently developed measures of equanimity. This research is limited by its cross-sectional design and the use of self-report measures only.

Conclusions

The present research offers preliminary evidence that dispositional equanimity attenuates the psychological distress that is typically associated with values obstruction. Future research can investigate whether cultivating an equanimous disposition through mindfulness exercises helps individuals to respond to obstacles in a manner that reduces adventitious suffering.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.

vorige artikel Mindful Parenting and Trajectories of Child Social-Emotional Development: A Study on Chinese Migrant Preschoolers

volgende artikel Seeing the Void: Experiencing Emptiness and Awareness with the Headless Way Technique

Anālayo, B. (2021). Relating equanimity to mindfulness. Mindfulness, 12(11), 2635–2644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01671-zCrossRef

Anālayo, B. (2003). Satipatthana: The direct path to realization. Windhorse Publications.

Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F1073191105283504CrossRefPubMed

Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., Walsh, E., Duggan, D., & Williams, J. M. (2008). Construct validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15(3), 329–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191107313003CrossRefPubMed

Barnes, S. M., & Lynn, S. J. (2010). Mindfulness skills and depressive symptoms: A longitudinal study. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 30(1), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.2190/2FIC.30.1.eCrossRef

Bauer, D. J., & Curran, P. J. (2005). Probing interactions in fixed and multilevel regression: Inferential and graphical techniques. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 40(3), 373–400. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr4003_5CrossRefPubMed

Bergin, A. J., & Pakenham, K. I. (2016). The stress-buffering role of mindfulness in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological adjustment. Mindfulness, 7(4), 928–939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0532-xCrossRef

Bernstein, A., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2007). Anxiety sensitivity: Selective review of promising research and future directions. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 7(2), 97–101. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.7.2.97CrossRefPubMed

Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. V., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bph077CrossRef

Cacioppo, S., Capitanio, J. P., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2014). Toward a neurology of loneliness. Psychological Bulletin, 140(6), 1464–1504. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037618CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Cardaciotto, L., Herbert, J. D., Forman, E. M., Moitra, E., & Farrow, V. (2008). The assessment of present-moment awareness and acceptance: The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. Assessment, 15(2), 204–223. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191107311467CrossRefPubMed

Carpenter, J. K., Conroy, K., Gomez, A. F., Curren, L. C., & Hofmann, S. G. (2019). The relationship between trait mindfulness and affective symptoms: A meta-analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Clinical Psychology Review, 74, 101785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101785CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Carvalho, S. A., Palmeira, L., Pinto-Gouveia, J., Gillanders, D., & Castilho, P. (2018). The utility of the Valuing Questionnaire in chronic pain. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 9, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2018.06.002CrossRef

Cheever, J., Cayoun, B. A., Elphinstone, B., & Shires, A. G. (2023). Confirmation and validation of the Equanimity Scale-16 (ES-16). Mindfulness, 14(1), 148–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-02029-9CrossRef

Christie, A. M., Atkins, P. W., & Donald, J. N. (2017). The meaning and doing of mindfulness: The role of values in the link between mindfulness and well-being. Mindfulness, 8(2), 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0606-9CrossRef

Creswell, J. D., & Lindsay, E. K. (2014). How does mindfulness training affect health? A mindfulness stress buffering account. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(6), 401–407. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F0963721414547415CrossRef

De Bruin, E. I., Topper, M., Muskens, J. G., Bögels, S. M., & Kamphuis, J. H. (2012). Psychometric properties of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in a meditating and a non-meditating sample. Assessment, 19(2), 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F1073191112446654CrossRefPubMed

Desbordes, G., Gard, T., Hoge, E. A., Hölzel, B. K., Kerr, C., Lazar, S. W., Olendzki, A., & Vago, D. R. (2015). Moving beyond mindfulness: Defining equanimity as an outcome measure in meditation and contemplative research. Mindfulness, 6(2), 356–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0269-8CrossRef

Folkman, S., Lazarus, R. S., Gruen, R. J., & DeLongis, A. (1986). Appraisal, coping, health status, and psychological symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50(3), 571–579. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.50.3.571CrossRefPubMed

Ford, B. Q., Lam, P., John, O. P., & Mauss, I. B. (2018). The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: Laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(6), 1075–1092. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000157CrossRefPubMed

Gloster, A. T., Klotsche, J., Ciarrochi, J., Eifert, G., Sonntag, R., Wittchen, H. U., & Hoyer, J. (2017). Increasing valued behaviors precedes reduction in suffering: Findings from a randomized controlled trial using ACT. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 91, 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.013CrossRefPubMed

Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E. M., Gould, N. F., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., Berger, Z., Sleicher, D., Maron, D. D., Shihab, H. M., Ranasinghe, P. D., Linn, S., Saha, S., Bass, E. B., & Haythornthwaite, J. A. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 174(3), 357–368. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Grabovac, A. D., Lau, M. A., & Willett, B. R. (2011). Mechanisms of mindfulness: A Buddhist psychological model. Mindfulness, 2(3), 154–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0054-5CrossRef

Gu, J., Strauss, C., Bond, R., & Cavanagh, K. (2015). How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 37, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.006CrossRefPubMed

Hadash, Y., Segev, N., Tanay, G., Goldstein, P., & Bernstein, A. (2016). The decoupling model of equanimity: Theory, measurement, and test in a mindfulness intervention. Mindfulness, 7(5), 1214–1226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0564-2CrossRef

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018555CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Ilagan, M. J., & Falk, C. F. (2023). Model-agnostic unsupervised detection of bots in a Likert-type questionnaire. Behavior Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-023-02246-7

Jijina, P., & Biswas, U. N. (2022). Various pathways for cultivation of equanimity: An exploratory study. Psychological Studies, 67, 28–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-021-00634-7CrossRef

Jo, D., Spencer, S. D., & Masuda, A. (2022). Mindfulness as a moderator of the relationship between engaged living and depression in emerging adulthood. Mindfulness, 13(3), 742–750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01831-9CrossRef

Juneau, C., Pellerin, N., Trives, E., Ricard, M., Shankland, R., & Dambrun, M. (2020a). Reliability and validity of an equanimity questionnaire: The Two-Factor Equanimity Scale (EQUA-S). PeerJ, 8, e9405. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9405CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Juneau, C., Shankland, R., & Dambrun, M. (2020b). Trait and state equanimity: The effect of mindfulness-based meditation practice. Mindfulness, 11(7), 1802–1812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01397-4CrossRef

Juneau, C., Shankland, R., Knäuper, B., & Dambrun, M. (2021). Mindfulness and equanimity moderate approach/avoidance motor responses. Cognition and Emotion, 35(6), 1085–1098. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2021.1927674CrossRefPubMed

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpg016CrossRef

Khoury, B., Sharma, M., Rush, S. E., & Fournier, C. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78(6), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.009CrossRefPubMed

Kibbey, M. M., DiBello, A. M., Babu, A. A., & Farris, S. G. (2020). Validation of the Valuing Questionnaire (VQ) in adults with cardiovascular disease and risk. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 17, 144–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.07.006CrossRef

Krafft, J., Hicks, E. T., Mack, S. A., & Levin, M. E. (2019). Psychological inflexibility predicts suicidality over time in college students. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 49(5), 1488–1496. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12533CrossRefPubMed

Levit-Binnun, N., Arbel, K., & Dorjee, D. (2021). The mindfulness map: A practical classification framework of mindfulness practices, associated intentions, and experiential understandings. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 727857. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.727857CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Lewson, A. B., Johns, S. A., Krueger, E., Chinh, K., Kidwell, K. M., & Mosher, C. E. (2021). Symptom experiences in post-treatment cancer survivors: Associations with acceptance and commitment therapy constructs. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29(7), 3487–3495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05854-7CrossRefPubMed

Lin, H. (2020). Probing two-way moderation effects: A review of software to easily plot Johnson-Neyman figures. Structural Equation Modeling, 27(3), 494–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2020.1732826CrossRef

Lindsay, E. K., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Mechanisms of mindfulness training: Monitor and acceptance theory (MAT). Clinical Psychology Review, 51, 48–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.10.011CrossRefPubMed

Lindsay, E. K., Young, S., Smyth, J. M., Brown, K. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 87, 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.015CrossRefPubMed

Lindsay, E. K., Young, S., Brown, K. W., Smyth, J. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2019). Mindfulness training reduces loneliness and increases social contact in a randomized controlled trial. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(9), 3488–3493. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1813588116CrossRef

Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33(3), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-uCrossRefPubMed

Lovibond, S. H., Lovibond, P. F., & Psychology Foundation of Australia. (1995). Manual for the depression anxiety stress scales (2nd ed., Ser. Psychology foundation monograph). Psychology Foundation of Australia.

Mann, L. M., & Walker, B. R. (2022). The role of equanimity in mediating the relationship between psychological distress and social isolation during COVID-19. Journal of Affective Disorders, 296, 370–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.087CrossRefPubMed

Michelson, S. E., Lee, J. K., Orsillo, S. M., & Roemer, L. (2011). The role of values-consistent behavior in generalized anxiety disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 28(5), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20793CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Paulhus, D. L., & Vazire, S. (2007). The self-report method. In R. W. Robins, R. C. Fraley, & R. F. Krueger (Eds.), Handbook of research methods in personality (pp. 224–239). Guilford Press.

Petersen, J. M., Barney, J. L., Barrett, T. S., Lensegrav-Benson, T. S., Quakenbush-Roberts, B., & Twohig, M. P. (2022). Values engagement as a predictor of eating disorder severity in female adolescents with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 31(4), 388–404.CrossRef

Petrocchi, N., & Ottaviani, C. (2016). Mindfulness facets distinctively predict depressive symptoms after two years: The mediating role of rumination. Personality and Individual Differences, 93, 92–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.08.017CrossRef

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63(1), 539–569. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452CrossRefPubMed

Prudenzi, A., Graham, D. C., Flaxman, P. E., & O’Connor, D. B. (2022). Wellbeing, burnout, and safe practice among healthcare professionals: Predictive influences of mindfulness, values, and self-compassion. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 27(5), 1130–1143. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2021.1898651CrossRef

Purdon, C. (1999). Thought suppression and psychopathology. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 37(11), 1029–1054. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00200-9CrossRefPubMed

Rogers, H. T., Shires, A. G., & Cayoun, B. A. (2021). Development and validation of the Equanimity Scale-16. Mindfulness, 12(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01503-6CrossRef

Shoham, A., Hadash, Y., & Bernstein, A. (2018). Examining the decoupling model of equanimity in mindfulness training: An intensive experience sampling study. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(5), 704–720. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F2167702618770446CrossRef

Simione, L., Raffone, A., & Mirolli, M. (2021). Acceptance, and not its interaction with attention monitoring, increases psychological well-being: Testing the monitor and acceptance theory of mindfulness. Mindfulness, 12(6), 1398–1411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01607-7CrossRef

Smout, M., Davies, M., Burns, N., & Christie, A. (2014). Development of the Valuing Questionnaire (VQ). Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(3), 164–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.06.001CrossRef

Strauss, C., Cavanagh, K., Oliver, A., & Pettman, D. (2014). Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e96110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096110CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Teasdale, J. D., & Chaskalson, M. (2011). How does mindfulness transform suffering? II: The transformation of dukkha. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 103–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564826CrossRef

Tomlinson, E. R., Yousaf, O., Vittersø, A. D., & Jones, L. (2018). Dispositional mindfulness and psychological health: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 9(1), 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0762-6CrossRefPubMed

Trompetter, H. R., Ten Klooster, P. M., Schreurs, K. M., Fledderus, M., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2013). Measuring values and committed action with the Engaged Living Scale (ELS): Psychometric evaluation in a nonclinical sample and a chronic pain sample. Psychological Assessment, 25(4), 1235–1246. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033813CrossRefPubMed

Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012). Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): A framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 296. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00296CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Van Dam, N. T., van Vugt, M. K., Vago, D. R., Schmalzl, L., Saron, C. D., Olendzki, A., Meissner, T., Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Gorchov, J., Fox, K. C. R., Field, B. A., Britton, W. B., Brefczynski-Lewis, J. A., & Meyer, D. E. (2018). Mind the hype: A critical evaluation and prescriptive agenda for research on mindfulness and meditation. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(1), 36–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/2F1745691617709589CrossRefPubMed

Weeks, S. N., Renshaw, T. L., Galliher, R. V., & Tehee, M. (2020). The moderating role of psychological inflexibility in the relationship between minority stress, substance misuse, and suicidality in LGB+ adolescents. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 18, 276–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.10.007CrossRef

Weinstein, N., Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). A multi-method examination of the effects of mindfulness on stress attribution, coping, and emotional well-being. Journal of Research in Personality, 43(3), 374–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2008.12.008CrossRef

Titel: Facing Obstacles with Equanimity: Trait Equanimity Attenuates the Positive Relations Between Values Obstruction and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
Auteurs: Aidan Smyth
Catherine Juneau
Seonwoo Hong
Michael John Ilagan
Bärbel Knäuper
Publicatiedatum: 26-03-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness / Uitgave 4/2024
Print ISSN: 1868-8527
Elektronisch ISSN: 1868-8535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02338-1

Andere artikelen Uitgave 4/2024

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Virtual Reality Training on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Chinese University Students

ORIGINAL PAPER

Examining Mental Health Benefits of a Brief Online Mindfulness Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER

Room to Improve: Predictors of Attendance and Outcomes Within Mindfulness-Enhanced Behavioral Parent Training

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER

Dispositional Mindfulness and Neural Activity in Youth: A Systematic Review

Open Access
REVIEW

The Two Arrows of Pain: Mechanisms of Pain Related to Meditation and Mental States of Aversion and Identification

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER

Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program Improves Mental Health, Well-Being, and Productivity

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER