Levels Of Dispositional Mindfulness Research Articles

The mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and fatigue in Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 epidemic in China, clinical nurses are at an elevated risk of suffering fatigue. This research sought to investigate the correlation between dispositional mindfulness and fatigue among nurses, as well as the potential mediation role of sleep quality in this relationship.MethodsThis online cross-sectional survey was performed from August to September 2022 to collect data from 2143 Chinese nurses after the re-emergence of COVID-19. The significance of the mediation effect was determined through a bootstrap approach with SPSS PROCESS macro.ResultsHigher levels of dispositional mindfulness were significantly negatively related to fatigue (r = -0.518, P < 0.001) and sleep disturbance (r = -0.344, P < 0.001). Besides, insufficient sleep was associated with fatigue (r = 0.547, P < 0.001). Analyses of mediation revealed that sleep quality mediated the correlation of dispositional mindfulness to fatigue (β = -0.137, 95% Confidence Interval = [-0.156, -0.120]).ConclusionsIn the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, Chinese nurses’ dispositional awareness was related to the reduction of fatigue, which was mediated by sleep quality. Intervention strategies and measures should be adapted to improve dispositional mindfulness and sleep quality to reduce fatigue in nurses during the pandemic.

Accepting Things as They Are: Dispositional Mindfulness, Decentering, Self-Compassion, and the Impact of Stuttering on Adults Who Stutter.

Mindfulness is defined as intentional, present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness. Previous studies have proposed that mindfulness practice may benefit people who stutter. This study aimed to test the relationship between levels of dispositional mindfulness in people who stutter and the impact of stuttering and whether self-compassion and the metacognitive ability of shifting to an objective perspective (decentering) mediate this relationship. It is hypothesized that greater dispositional mindfulness is associated with attenuated negative impact of stuttering on a person's life through a higher capability to shift into an objective and compassionate perspective. A total of 150 Israeli adults who stutter completed a full online survey in Hebrew to assess their levels of dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, decentering capability, and impact of stuttering on their lives. The relationships between constructs were assessed using Pearson's correlation and mediation analysis. The adverse impact of stuttering was negatively and moderately associated with dispositional mindfulness, such that individuals with greater self-reported dispositional mindfulness reported fewer reactions to stuttering, difficulty in communication, and higher quality of life. This relationship was fully and sequentially mediated via decentering and self-compassion, which were also negatively and moderately associated with the impact of stuttering. People who stutter with greater dispositional mindfulness have an increased ability to view their experiences in a more objective and compassionate manner, which is associated with an attenuated impact of stuttering on their lives. As these capabilities can be cultivated through practice, this study proposes mindfulness practice as an additional beneficial tool for people who stutter.

Mindfulness for violinists

An overabundance of mental distractions may prevent musicians’ minds from being in the moment while practicing. The present mixed-methods study examined the effects of three newly designed mindfulness meditations on six conservatory violinists’ levels of dispositional mindfulness, mind-wandering and respective variables. Thought probes were used before and after the intervention to examine frequency of mind-wandering and contextual variables (task difficulty, fatigue and stress, and motivation) during two hours of participants’ instrumental practice (one of technical work another of a new piece in their repertoire). FFQM (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and MfM (Mindfulness for Musicians) questionnaires were used to measure mindfulness levels before and after the intervention. Interviews and meditation logs were used as qualitative data. Results indicated that all participants became more mindful at the end of the meditation week for all mindfulness’ facets for the FFQM and MfM questionnaires. However, the improvements were particularly noticeable for the “Acting with Awareness” and “Non-Judge” facets for the FFQM and for “Describe” in the MfM. Results showed opposing trends in mind-wandering levels throughout the intervention. That is, some participants showed higher mind-wandering at the post-intervention and others lower. However, contextual variables such as fatigue, motivation or worry, may have also affected how much participants wandered while practicing (e.g. some of them showed more rumination when being more worried and having slept less). Overall, results from the experiment evidenced the importance of including mindfulness in violinists’ daily practice as a useful routine to become more aware and less distracted.

Assessing the Efficacy of a Meditation Intervention on Dispositional Mindfulness Among Medical Students and Resident Physicians

Introduction: Dispositional mindfulness is the act of paying attention to one’s thoughts and feelings with an open and non-judgemental attitude. Medical students and resident physicians are under immense pressure and stress daily, and they need effective tools to help increase their dispositional mindfulness. This project examined the impact of a meditation intervention on medical students’ dispositional mindfulness. Methods: In 2020, medical students and resident physicians at the University of South Florida were given the option to practice daily meditation for thirty days; time spent on the practice varied depending on comfort with the practice. Dispositional mindfulness levels were assessed using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) before and after the thirty-day intervention. Results: Eighty-three students, residents, and fellows completed the 30-day program, including the baseline and follow-up measures. Overall levels of mindfulness significantly increased among medical students (p < 0.001). Higher MAAS scores were associated with a longer duration of meditation (10-20 days: p = 0.046, >20 days: p = 0.006). MAAS scores also significantly increased in female participants (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our intervention demonstrates that a 30-day meditation program may aid in fostering dispositional mindfulness among medical students while potentially promoting better wellness outcomes amongst physician learners.

Effects of an integrated childbirth education program to reduce fear of childbirth, anxiety, and depression, and improve dispositional mindfulness: A single-blind randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of an integrated childbirth education intervention on reducing childbirth fear, anxiety, and depression, and improving dispositional mindfulness. DesignA two-arm parallel, single-blind randomised controlled trial. SettingA teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan. ParticipantsPregnant women ≥ 20 years of age with a singleton pregnancy (12–24 weeks gestation) and their support partners were recruited. All women included in the study had a score of ≥ 7 points on a fear of childbirth visual analogue scale. InterventionsThe intervention group (n = 53) received an 8-week course in a childbirth education programme, which included (1) childbirth education using simulation-based learning that highlighted coping with labour pain and (2) instruction in mindfulness breathing, body scans, stretching, sitting meditation, and mindfulness walking. Support partners were invited to participate. The control group (n = 53) received the usual standard prenatal care. MeasurementsThe primary outcome of fear of childbirth was assessed using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes of anxiety, depression, and dispositional mindfulness were assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, respectively. Repeated data were collected at baseline, 36 weeks gestation, and 1 week postpartum. FindingsNinety-one mothers completed the study, with a mean age of 33.9 years (SD = 4.4), and most were primipara (n = 83). The baseline measurements did not differ between the groups. Compared with the control group, there were significant differences in all measures from baseline for the intervention group: the scores were significantly lower for fear of childbirth (mean difference (MD) =-14.8 ∼ -23.7, p < .01), symptoms of anxiety (MD =-7.4 ∼ -6.4, p < .01), and depression (MD =-3.7 ∼ -3.5, p < .01); the levels of dispositional mindfulness were significantly higher (MD =4.9 ∼ 5.7, p < .01) at 36 weeks gestation, and 1 week postpartum. Conclusion and implications for practiceThe 8-week integrated childbirth education intervention was effective in reducing the fear of childbirth in pregnant women. The mindfulness techniques were easily learnt and applied by the participants. Using these techniques during pregnancy and labour enhanced participants’ mental health and coping. The integrated childbirth education which includes pregnant women and their support partners could be easily taught by midwives in other contexts.

Dispositional mindfulness and self-referential neural activity during the resting state

ABSTRACT Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to impact a broad range of outcomes including enhanced attention, memory, and self-regulation. Previously, mindfulness training has been negatively correlated with brain activity across the default mode network nodes following mindfulness-based practice. Currently, little research has been done to understand the neural basis of differences in mindfulness levels in untrained individuals. In this study, we explored the relationship between the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) during the resting state and the level of dispositional mindfulness, which was measured by using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The results showed that the total scores on the FFMQ were negatively correlated with the spontaneous activation of left premotor cortex. This indicates that individuals with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness might require less effort to control their irrelevant motor responses.

The Role of Mindfulness in the Intimate Relationships and Psychological Wellbeing in Emerging Adulthood

Little is known about the impact of mindfulness on psychological wellbeing, anxiety, and avoidance in couple relationships. In emerging adulthood, intimate relationships are associated with life satisfaction and changes that can cause psychological maladjustment. This study seeks to determine if dispositional mindfulness acts as a protective variable between psychological wellbeing, anxiety, and avoidance and identify the factors that are protectors. A sample was obtained of 391 young university students between 18 and 25 years old. The Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing, and the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale were used. The results show that the highest levels of dispositional mindfulness are associated with greater psychological wellbeing. Dispositional mindfulness cannot act as a protective variable against anxiety and avoidance, and values were non-significant in intimate relationships. It is necessary to continue investigating the most protective facets of mindfulness for both anxiety and avoidance.

Specific emotion-regulation processes explain the relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion with coping-motivated alcohol and marijuana use

Previous research has established coping-motivated use to be the most problematic form of substance use. While dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion have been associated with lower levels of coping-motivated use in undergraduate students, possible mechanisms underlying these relationships have never been tested. The present two-part study examines whether specific emotion-regulation processes underlie the negative relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion with drinking to cope with depression and anxiety (Study One) and coping-motivated marijuana use (Study Two). The study also tests an alternative model examining whether difficulties in emotion-regulation is associated with lower levels of specific mindfulness skills, and in turn higher levels of coping-motivated use. Undergraduate students completed self-report measures assessing their levels of dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, difficulties in emotion-regulation, and coping-motivated alcohol and marijuana use. In Study One (N = 187), mediation analyses revealed that mindfulness and self-compassion were associated with higher levels of access to emotion-regulation strategies, which in turn was associated with lower levels of drinking to cope with depression, but not anxiety. In Study Two (N = 170), mediation analyses revealed that mindfulness and self-compassion were associated with higher levels of acceptance of emotional responses, which in turn was associated with lower levels of coping-motivated marijuana use. In the alternative model, the mindfulness skill of acting with awareness partially explained the relationship between difficulties in emotion-regulation and drinking to cope with depression and anxiety, but not coping-motivated marijuana use. Results contribute to theoretical models and implications are discussed.

Dispositional mindfulness, perceived social support and emotion regulation among Chinese firefighters: a longitudinal study

This study explored whether perceived social support moderated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation. The data was collected from a fire sergeant training center by paper-and-pencil surveys at two times in Jiangsu province, China. A total of 340 Chinese male firefighters (Mage = 21.33 years; SD = 1.55 years) reported their levels of dispositional mindfulness, emotion regulation and perceived social support at base-line (T1) and three-month follow-up (T2). At the Time 1, all participants completed assessments of dispositional mindfulness, perceived social support, emotion regulation and provided their demographics information (age and gender). After 3 months, at Time 2, participants completed measures of emotion regulation, depression and PTSD. This study found that after controlling for age, the work time as well as the level of posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression, perceived social support at T1 played a moderating role between dispositional mindfulness at T1 and expressive suppression at T2, but it didn’t moderate the relationship between dispositional mindfulness at T1 and cognitive reappraisal at T2. Specifically, for firefighters with higher perceived social support, higher dispositional mindfulness was significantly associated with lower expressive suppression. However, the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and expressive suppression was not significant for those with low perceived social support. Findings highlight the beneficial effects of the interaction between mindfulness and social support on the emotion regulation of firefighters. The implications of this research, including perceived social support interventions targeting emergency service professionals were discussed.

Longitudinal relationship between inferiority and maladjustment among college students: The mediation of dispositional mindfulness and moderation of left-behind experience

The present study explored the longitudinal relationship between college students' inferiority and maladjustment, as well as the mediating role of dispositional mindfulness and the moderating role of left-behind experience.A total of 313 Chinese college students in Chongqing reported their levels of inferiority and whether they had left-behind experience at base-line (T1), and reported their levels of dispositional mindfulness and maladaptive problems three months later (T2). The current study found that dispositional mindfulness played a mediating role between inferiority and maladjustment (stress, anxiety and aggression), and left-behind experience moderated the second half of the model (i.e., the link between dispositional mindfulness and maladjustment). Furthermore, the mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness was weaker for college students who had left-behind experience compared to those without such experience. Findings highlight the beneficial effects of dispositional mindfulness on the maladjustment of college students, and the adverse impact of childhood left-behind experience on individuals’ psychological resources and mental health in adulthood. The implications of the results and mindfulness interventions targeting college students were discussed.

Workplace Surface Acting and Employee Insomnia: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Detachment and Dispositional Mindfulness

This study adopted a process-oriented approach to explore the mediating and moderating mechanisms surrounding the association between surface acting at work and sleep quality. Drawing on the stressor-detachment and transactional stress models, the current study proposed a moderated mediation model to examine whether surface acting would be associated indirectly with employee insomnia via lack of psychological detachment, and whether this indirect linkage is moderated by dispositional mindfulness. The study was conducted among 516 full-time employed hospital nurses in China over a one-year period. Results revealed that suppressed negative emotions, but not faked positive emotions, had a significant influence on employee insomnia over time, and lack of psychological detachment mediated the effect of suppressing negative emotions on insomnia. Tests of moderated mediation indicated that the mediated path was weaker for employees with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness. These findings advance our understanding of how and when surface acting negatively influences employee sleep, as well as point to implications for individual and organizational interventions.

Gender Differences in Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Drinking to Cope in Undergraduates with Problematic Consumption

Undergraduate students show the highest rates of problematic alcohol consumption compared to any other non-clinical category of individuals, and coping-motivated drinking has been consistently shown to be the most problematic. The present study examines associations between mindfulness facets, self-compassion, and coping-motivated drinking, and how these associations differ by gender. Undergraduate problematic drinkers (N = 146) completed self-report measures assessing their motives for drinking (coping-depression, coping-anxiety, enhancement, social, conformity) and levels of dispositional mindfulness (observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, non-reactivity) and self-compassion. Regression analyses revealed that for both genders, mindfulness facets and self-compassion were statistically significantly negatively associated with coping-depression, but not coping-anxiety. Non-judging was uniquely associated with coping-depression in women, but in men, non-reactivity was the sole unique association. Unexpectedly, describing was negatively associated with conformity-motivated drinking in women. Mindfulness and self-compassion based programs for undergraduate problematic drinkers may be most effective if they target students who drink to cope with depression and emphasize different skills depending on the student’s gender.

Childhood Interpersonal Trauma and Sexual Satisfaction in Patients Seeing Sex Therapy: Examining Mindfulness and Psychological Distress as Mediators

Mindful attention and awareness may promote sexual satisfaction. However, experiencing cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCT; sexual abuse, neglect, etc.) is associated with distress, which might interfere with dispositional mindfulness and lead to lower sexual satisfaction. Although the concept of mindfulness emerged as an interesting variable to understand sexual difficulties, little empirical data are available on this topic. This study tested an integrative mediation model of the relation between CCT, psychological distress, dispositional mindfulness, and sexual satisfaction within a clinical sample of 410 adult patients consulting in sex therapy. Patients completed questionnaires assessing CCT, psychological distress, dispositional mindfulness, and sexual satisfaction. Results showed that the majority of patients reported experiences of childhood interpersonal trauma. Path analyses highlighted three distinct significant paths from CCT to sexual satisfaction. First, dispositional mindfulness mediated the relationship between CCT and sexual satisfaction. Second, psychological distress also mediated the relationship between CCT and sexual satisfaction. Third, the effect of CCT on sexual satisfaction was sequentially mediated through greater levels of psychological distress and lower levels of dispositional mindfulness. The model explained 19% of the variance in sexual satisfaction. Findings suggest that dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress are key processes explaining sexual satisfaction in CCT survivors.

Associations Between Specific Mindfulness Facets, Self-Compassion, Internally Motivated Drinking, and Alcohol-Related Problems

Alcohol misuse is prevalent on university campuses, and although alcohol consumption is considered a normative part of the undergraduate experience, it can become problematic when used in attempt to change one’s emotional, internal state. The present study examines associations between mindfulness facets, self-compassion, internally motivated drinking (i.e., drinking to cope with depression, with anxiety, to enhance positive emotions), and alcohol-related problems in undergraduate students. Undergraduate student drinkers (N = 170; all women given the possibility of gender-specific pathways) completed self-report measures assessing motives to drink, alcohol-related problems, and levels of dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion. Regression analyses revealed non-judging of inner experience and self-compassion were statistically significantly negatively associated with coping-depression (p = 0.012, p = 0.001) and coping-anxiety (p = 0.035, p = 0.012) motives, with self-compassion adding significant variation in coping-depression beyond that attributable to non-judging (p = 0.043). Acting with awareness was significantly negatively associated with alcohol-related problems (p = 0.001). Future experimental research should investigate whether interventions and knowledge-translation activities aimed at increasing non-judging, self-compassion, and acting with awareness helps reduce internally motivated drinking and alcohol-related problems on university campuses.

How does mindfulness modulate daily stress response: evidences from ambulatory assessment

Objective: Mindfulness has been found to be associated with less adverse stress response. However, little is known about how mindfulness modulates stress response in the real daily life. The current study investigated the relation between daily stress and negative emotions, and explored a mediational link via perceived loss of control, and moderation by dispositional mindfulness, to better understand this association. Design: A total of 95 college students were recruited to complete a questionnaire and to report on their stress, perceived loss of control and negative emotions in daily life. Main Outcome Measures: Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was used to assess dispositional mindfulness. Stress, perceived loss of control and negative emotions were assessed by ambulatory assessment. Results: Stress was positively related with negative emotions at within-person level. Perceived loss of control mediated the relationship between stress and negative emotions. Furthermore, participants with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness showed an attenuated association between stress and anger, and also attenuated associations between perceived loss of control, and anger and fatigue at within-person level. Conclusion: These findings point to perceived loss of control as an important key factor in daily stress effects. Dispositional mindfulness appears to have beneficial effects in that it attenuates the impact of daily stressors on individuals’ wellbeing. Clinical implications and limitations are discussed.

Dispositional Mindfulness, Shame, and Compulsive Sexual Behaviors among Men in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.

Approximately 31% of men in treatment for a substance use disorders (SUD) engage in compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). Shame, a well-documented consequence of CSB, increases the likelihood of relapse following treatment for SUDs. Despite the risk of relapse, prior research has not investigated factors that may attenuate the relation between CSB and shame. Dispositional mindfulness is one such factor known to mitigate shame. However, researchers have yet to examine dispositional mindfulness as a moderator of the relationship between CSB and shame among a sample of men in treatment for SUDs. In an effort to inform intervention efforts, the present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that CSB would not relate to shame among men with high, as opposed to low, levels of dispositional mindfulness. The present study reviewed medical records of 184 men in residential treatment for SUDs who completed cross-sectional measures of shame, CSB, dispositional mindfulness, and substance use problems. Results demonstrated a significant interaction between CSB and dispositional mindfulness such that CSB positively related to shame at low, but not mean or high, levels of dispositional mindfulness. These results support and extend previous mindfulness and CSB treatment research. Findings suggested that intervention efforts for CSB may benefit from increasing dispositional mindfulness in an effort to reduce shame-related cognitions.

The Observing Facet of Trait Mindfulness Predicts Frequency of Aesthetic Experiences Evoked by the Arts

Mindfulness can foster an enhanced sensitivity to internal and external impressions, which could result in heightened subjective responses to works of art. So far though, very little is known about the connection between mindfulness and aesthetic responses to the arts, therefore the current study aimed to investigate whether there was an association between trait mindfulness and how often people report aesthetic experiences. We hypothesized that the Observing facet of mindfulness would positively predict the self-reported frequency of aesthetic experiences (aesthetic chills, feeling touched, and absorption). Participants in an online study (N = 207) completed the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire, an Aesthetic Experiences scale in relation to the area of the arts a participant encountered most frequently in their daily life, and a measure of aesthetic expertise. Controlling for aesthetic expertise and sex, linear regression revealed that the Observing facet of mindfulness was positively associated with aesthetic experience, as predicted. Non-reactivity positively predicted aesthetic experience, while Non-judging was negatively associated with aesthetic experience. Potential explanations for the association between these three facets of trait mindfulness and aesthetic responses are discussed in relation to information-processing models of aesthetic experience. The findings provide preliminary support for the premise that levels of dispositional mindfulness are associated with the frequency of intense emotional responses to the arts, and recommendations for further research studies are outlined.

Linking dispositional mindfulness and positive psychological processes in cancer survivorship: A multivariate path analysis.

237 Background: Research indicates dispositional mindfulness is linked with positive psychological outcomes. This disposition, which is malleable through training, is characterized by the tendency exhibit nonjudgmental and nonreactive awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, and present moment sensory-perceptual experience. Although this trait has been linked with salutary outcomes in the broader mental health literature, less is known about the trait of mindfulness in cancer survivors and how it may be linked with indices of psychological and physical health relevant to cancer survivorship. Methods: We conducted a multivariate path analysis of cross-sectional data from a heterogenous sample of cancer patients (N = 97) to test a conceptual model linking dispositional mindfulness with cancer-related quality of life via positive psychological processes. Results: We found that patients with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were more likely to pay attention to positive experiences (β = 0.47), a propensity which was associated with positive reappraisal of stressful life events (β = 0.46). Patients who endorsed more frequent positive reappraisal had a greater sense of sense of meaning in life (β = 0.43) and savored rewarding or life affirming events (β = 0.45). In turn, those who engaged in high levels of savoring had better quality of life (β = 0.33) and suffered from less emotional distress (β = -0.54). Overall model fit was excellent, χ2/df= 1.18; CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.04 (0.00, 0.12). Conclusions: The data support our hypothetical model of the processes by which mindfulness promotes psychological flourishing in the face of cancer. Dispositional mindfulness appears to broaden attention from a myopic focus on illness to encompass previously unattended positive features of the social and natural environment. With this broader set of information from which new, more adaptive situational appraisals may be generated, mindfulness may engender positive reappraisals of stressful life events and promote sense of meaning in life. When sustained over time, these processes may propel an upward spiral of positive cognition-emotion interactions with salutary consequences for cancer survivorship.

Mindful creativity: the influence of mindfulness meditation on creative thinking

GENERAL COMMENTARY article Front. Psychol., 10 January 2014Sec. Cognition Volume 4 - 2013 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.01020

Dispositional Mindfulness, Meditation, and Conditional Goal Setting

Conditional goal setting (CGS, the tendency to regard high order goals such as happiness, as conditional upon the achievement of lower order goals) is observed in individuals with depression and recent research has suggested a link between levels of dispositional mindfulness and conditional goal setting in depressed patients. Since interventions which aim to increase mindfulness through training in meditation are used with patients suffering from depression it is of interest to examine whether such interventions might alter CGS. Study 1 examined the correlation between changes in dispositional mindfulness and changes in CGS over a 3-4 month period in patients participating in a pilot randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Results indicated that increases in dispositional mindfulness were significantly associated with decreases in CGS, although this effect could not be attributed specifically to the group who had received training in meditation. Study 2 explored the impact of brief periods of either breathing or loving kindness meditation on CGS in 55 healthy participants. Contrary to expectation, a brief period of meditation increased CGS. Further analyses indicated that this effect was restricted to participants low in goal re-engagement ability who were allocated to loving kindness meditation. Longer term changes in dispositional mindfulness are associated with reductions in CGS in patients with depressed mood. However initial reactions to meditation, and in particular loving kindness meditation, may be counterintuitive and further research is required in order to determine the relationship between initial reactions and longer-term benefits of meditation practice.