Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the effects of short-term mindfulness training on the emotional state of individuals with different levels of mindfulness, especially from the perspective of autonomic neurophysiological mechanism. Methods: 52 college students were divided into higher or lower dispositional mindfulness groups. Then they underwent the measurement periods of baseline, short-term mindfulness training and recovery. During these periods, wrist-worn wearable devices were used for recording their autonomic nervous system activities, including heart rate (HR), galvanic skin response (GSR) and pulse rate variability (PRV). The Positive and Negative affect Scale (PANAS) and the State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI) were used before and after the experiment. Results: The results showed that in both groups, instead of positive emotion, negative emotions and state anxiety reduced significantly after the training. In terms of physiological signals, in lower-dispositional group, the HR of the recovery period were significantly lower than that of the other two periods, and the PRV of the recovery period were significantly higher. In higher-dispositional group, the GSR of recovery period was significantly higher than that of the other two periods. Conclusions: The results suggest that short-term mindfulness training works mainly by reducing negative emotions rather than increasing positive ones. Our findings also provide neurophysiological evidence for a better emotional intervention effect of short-term mindfulness training on individuals with lower dispositional mindfulness.
Highlights
Mindfulness refers to individual’s conscious, nonjudgmental awareness of the current internal or external experience (Kabat-Zinn, 2010)
The results suggest that short-term mindfulness training works mainly by reducing negative emotions rather than increasing positive ones
In view of the fact that some previous studies on the effect of long-term mindfulness training on emotional valence mostly proved the reduction of negative emotions (Liu, Liang, Duan, & Li, 2008), this study will explore if short-term mindfulness training can effectively reduce individual’s negative emotions similar to long-term mindfulness training
Summary
Mindfulness refers to individual’s conscious, nonjudgmental awareness of the current internal or external experience (Kabat-Zinn, 2010). Researchers had arguments towards the effect of short-term mindfulness training (one-time training ranging from 3 minutes to 1 hour) on individual emotional valence. In Valim’s et al (2019) experiment, he found that this effect only existed in short-term mindfulness based on positive emotion awareness. Lalot’s et al (2014) research found after short-term mindfulness training, participants’ reports of positive emotions decreased. It can be seen that the impact of short-term mindfulness training on emotional valence needs to be further explored. In view of the fact that some previous studies on the effect of long-term mindfulness training on emotional valence mostly proved the reduction of negative emotions (Liu, Liang, Duan, & Li, 2008), this study will explore if short-term mindfulness training can effectively reduce individual’s negative emotions similar to long-term mindfulness training
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call