Relationships between mindfulness, emotional distress and subjective wellbeing: are these underpinned by enhanced decentring and diminished recurrent negative thinking? Beverley Clack Research Associate Dr Jen Unwin Dr Alistair Smith Consultant Clinical & Health Psychologist Clinical Psychologist
Mindfulness Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally (Kabat-Zinn, 1994) Role of mind absent here
Mechanisms of Action Models of mechanisms of action (Grabovac, Lau & Willett, 2011) Overlap: Decentring and Recurrent negative thinking (RNT) Empirical evidence Subjective wellbeing Positive and negative affect and hedonic treadmill Role of mind absent here
Research Aims Role of mind absent here
Method Ethical approval Online questionnaire (n = 539) Questionnaire design FFMQ, EQ, RRQ, PSWQ, DASS-21, PANAS (PA), SWLS Analysis: Structural equation modelling - path analysis (maximum likelihood estimation) Role of mind absent here
Results 1 Means and Correlations reflecting previous research Hypothesised model: Acceptable though not good fit to data: Χ2(5) = 21.48; p < 0.001; CFI = .99; SRMR = 0.02; and RMSEA = .08 (Confidence Intervals: .05 to .11; p > .05). Built-up model: Χ2(4) = 7.09; p > .05; CFI = .99; SRMR = 0.01; and RMSEA = .04 (Confidence Intervals: .00 to .08; p = .61 Role of mind absent here
Results 2 Role of mind absent here
Implications: Research Some support for models of mechanisms of action Only study to examine decentring empirically (cf. Coffey & Hartman, 2008) Only study to examine decentring and RNT simultaneously (Coffey & Hartman, 2008; rumination; Roemer & Orsillo, 2002; worry Transdiagnostic mechanism of action But decentring as important for mood Subjective wellbeing Mechanisms of action not formally explicated or examined but desire discrepancy via decentring and positive affect Useful approach Role of mind absent here
Limitations & Future Directions Sampling Self-report (positive wording and self-kindness) SEM Linearity – e.g. stress Causality Indirect effects - specific Future design (facets, pre- post) & self-kindness Role of mind absent here
Thank you for listening b.clack@lancaster.ac.uk