@article{4e2c6cdc53b24e19a89868ac877f0e11,
title = "How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials",
abstract = "Mindfulness meditation interventions-which train skills in monitoring present-moment experiences with a lens of acceptance-have shown promise for increasing positive emotions. Using a theory-based approach, we hypothesized that learning acceptance skills in mindfulness interventions helps people notice more positive experiences in daily life, and tested whether removing acceptance training from mindfulness interventions would eliminate intervention-related boosts in positive affect. In 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of stressed community adults, mindfulness skills were dismantled into 2 structurally equivalent interventions: (a) training in both monitoring and acceptance (Monitor + Accept) and (b) training in monitoring only (Monitor Only) without acceptance training. Study 1 tested 8-week group-based Monitor + Accept and Monitor Only interventions compared with a no treatment control group. Study 2 tested 2-week smartphone-based Monitor + Accept and Monitor Only interventions compared with an active control training. In both studies, end-of-day and momentary positive affect and negative affect were measured in daily life for 3 days pre- and post-intervention using ambulatory assessments. As predicted, across 2 RCTs, Monitor + Accept training increased positive affect compared with both Monitor Only and control groups. In Study 1, this effect was observed in end-of-day positive affect. In Study 2, this effect was found in both end-of-day and momentary positive affect outcomes. In contrast, all active interventions in Studies 1 and 2 decreased negative affect. These studies provide the first experimental evidence that developing an orientation of acceptance toward present-moment experiences is a central mechanism of mindfulness interventions for boosting positive emotions in daily life.",
author = "Lindsay, {Emily K.} and Brian Chin and Greco, {Carol M.} and Shinzen Young and Brown, {Kirk W.} and Wright, {Aidan G.C.} and Smyth, {Joshua M.} and Deanna Burkett and Creswell, {J. David}",
note = "Funding Information: Both RCTs are registered on clinicaltrials.gov (Study 1: NCT02502227; Study 2: NCT02433431). We declare one potential conflict of interest, which has not influenced the authorship or content of this article: Shinzen Young owns a portion of 01 Expert Systems, which will be releasing a modified and extended version of Study 2{\textquoteright}s Monitor + Accept mindfulness intervention as a commercial app. This research was supported by grants from the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health (NCCIH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH; R21AT008493 and R01AT008685 awarded to last author JDC; F32AT009508 awarded to first author EKL), a foundation grant from the Yoga Science Foundation (EKL and JDC), a 1440 Award (JDC) and a Varela Award (EKL) from the Mind & Life Institute, and a dissertation research award from the American Psychological Association (EKL). Recruitment for both studies was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant number UL1TR000005). These funding sources had no involvement in study design; data collection, analysis, or interpretation; writing of this report; or the decision to submit this article for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the foundation funders. We thank Melissa Myozen Blacker, MA, Roshi, former senior teacher at UMass Center for Mindfulness for her consultation in developing the Monitor Only adaptation of MBSR; Bill Koratos, Todd Mertz, Emily Barrett, Stephanie Nash, and fleetCreature for their work on the smartphone intervention; Hayley Rahl, Lauren Simicich, Jeffrey De-Boer, Alexa Smith, and Vevette Yang for help with study management; and the many research assistants who collected and processed data. We thank Anna Marsland, Michael Scheier, and Sheldon Cohen for helpful comments on early drafts. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 American Psychological Association.",
year = "2018",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1037/pspa0000134",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "115",
pages = "944--973",
journal = "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology",
issn = "0022-3514",
publisher = "American Psychological Association Inc.",
number = "6",
}