Abstract
The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between meditation experience and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) in regular meditators with a wide range of experience, and to examine the extent to which self-compassion and mindfulness mediate this relationship. RNT is a transdiagnostic process that is implicated in the development and maintenance of several mental health disorders. Converging evidence suggests that meditation practice is associated with improved mental health and may reduce levels of RNT. Increased levels of self-compassion and mindfulness have been associated with decreased levels of RNT and proposed as theoretically consistent mediators by which meditation practice exerts its beneficial effects; however, they are seldom considered in combination. In a cross-sectional design, 1281 meditators (mean age = 44.7 years, SD = 13.9, 53.7% female) completed questionnaires about meditation experience, RNT, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Linear regression and generalised structural equation models were used to examine the data. Longer duration of meditation experience was associated with lower levels of RNT and higher levels of self-compassion and mindfulness. Meditation experience was associated with RNT indirectly through self-compassion, but not through mindfulness. The results offer preliminary support for longer-term meditation as a potential means for reducing the maladaptive process of RNT. Clinically, self-compassion could be identified as a promising treatment target for interventions.
Highlights
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a process characterised by intrusiveness, repetitiveness, and difficulties to disengage from negative cognitive and affective content (Ehring and Watkins 2008; McEvoy et al 2013)
There was strong evidence that longer durations of meditation experience were associated with lower levels of repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and higher levels of self-compassion and mindfulness
There was strong evidence that longer durations of meditation experience were associated with lower levels of RNT in both the attentional group (p value for test for trend < 0.001) and the non-attentional group
Summary
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a process characterised by intrusiveness, repetitiveness, and difficulties to disengage from negative cognitive and affective content (Ehring and Watkins 2008; McEvoy et al 2013). Heightened levels of RNT, which encompasses worry (future-directed negative thought) and rumination (past-directed negative thought), have been found across several clinical disorders, most notably in depression and anxiety (Watkins 2008). RNT is associated with detrimental health effects (McLaughlin et al 2007; Segerstrom et al 2000) and predictive of the development of affective disorders including depression (Just and Alloy 1997). Of particular interest in this context is the practice of meditation
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