Positive Affect Research Articles

Development and Pilot Testing of an Internet-Based Version of the Unified Protocol That Targets Positive Affect Regulation: A Treatment Development Report

Anxiety and depressive disorders are common and continue to increase in prevalence. However, most individuals who meet the criteria for these disorders do not receive any treatment, and only a small portion receive evidence-based care. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are one way to increase access to evidence-based psychological treatments. Evidence supports the efficacy of disorder-specific and transdiagnostic DMHIs based on cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression. Most of these interventions focus on reducing symptoms and negative affect. However, research indicates that deficits in positive affect, a related yet distinct construct, are common across these disorders. The current study reports on the development of an Internet-based version of the unified protocol that also targets positive affect regulation. We also report results from a small initial pilot study (N = 4) on the acceptability of the intervention, preliminary outcomes, and participant feedback used to inform refinements to the program. Participants generally found the program to be acceptable. In terms of preliminary outcomes, there was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms at the group level from pre- to posttreatment. There were no other statistically significant results at the group level from pre- to posttreatment on stress, depression, savoring, or well-being. However, individual participants reported clinically significant changes in various outcomes. Results also highlight the importance of receiving participant feedback early in the development process.

Conversation-Related Advertising and Electronic Eavesdropping: Mapping Perceptions of Phones Listening for Advertising in the United States, the Netherlands, and Poland

People report receiving ads on their mobile device that are seemingly related to previous offline conversations (i.e., conversation-related advertising). They may think that this is because their electronic devices are eavesdropping (i.e., e-eavesdropping). To gain insights into the scope and characteristics of conversation-related advertising and e-eavesdropping beliefs, we conducted a survey in the United States ( n = 300), the Netherlands ( n = 293), and Poland ( n = 293). These countries were chosen based on their differences in privacy regulations and history with state surveillance. We find that belief in conversation-related advertising is a widespread cross-country phenomenon, which is higher in the United States compared with European countries. In addition, between half and two-thirds of respondents believe e-eavesdropping is a likely explanation for it. We find that social media is a main contributing factor through which people hear about and most often see conversation-related advertising. Moreover, in response to such advertising, respondents experience more negative than positive affect. The results show that this is a prevalent and timely phenomenon that warrants more research. This carries implications for the (social) media industry and regulators, as it highlights the importance of transparency and (insufficient) individual understanding of data collection and processing.

Understanding Psychological Well-being and Resilience among College Nursing Students

Psychological well-being is defined as enhancing positive states and reducing negative states (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). According to Ryff (1989), psychological well-being encompasses an individual's quality of life to other social units. It is characterized by two prominent varieties. The first refers to the extent to which people experience positive emotions and feelings of happiness. Sometimes this aspect of psychological well-being is referred to as subjective well-being (Diener, 2000). This type of psychological well-being is “Hedonic”, which is normally used to refer to the subjective feelings of happiness (Robertson & Cooper, 1999). It comprises two components, an affective component (high positive affect and low negative affect) and a cognitive component (satisfaction with life) (Robertson & Cooper, 1999). It is proposed that an individual experiences happiness when positive affect and satisfaction with life are both high (Carruthers & Hood, 2004).

Investigating the cognitive and affective dynamics of social media addiction: Insights from peer contexts.

Informed by the interaction of person-affect-cognition-execution (I-PACE) theory, the present studies examined the association between peer rejection, peer popularity, and social media addiction (SMA) at both between-person and within-person levels. Two distinct processes, the fear-driven/compensation-seeking process and the reward-driven process were explored. In Study 1, using a cross-sectional sample of high school students (N = 318), both processes were supported via different cognitive mediators. Support for the fear-driven/compensation-seeking process was demonstrated by finding that avoidance expectancy was a significant cognitive mediator between peer-nominated rejection and SMA. In turn, the reward-driven process was supported by the significant mediation of reward expectancy between peer-nominated popularity and SMA. In Study 2, using ecological momentary assessment with college students (N = 54), we found the fear-driven/compensation-seeking process partially supported through both between-person and within-person mediations. Specifically, negative affect and social media craving were two affective mediators that linked peer rejection and addictive social media use behaviors. On the other hand, the reward-driven process was predominantly supported by within-person mediations, in which positive affect and social media craving were found to be mediators of the relationship between peer popularity and addictive social media use behaviors. The results underscore that adolescents experiencing rejection tend to use social media to avoid negative feelings and compensate for interpersonal deficits, while adolescents experiencing popularity tend to use social media to maintain positive feelings and gain social rewards. Implications for the assessment, case formulation, and treatment of SMA in counseling practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of forest therapy on functional recovery after acute ischemic stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with a growing need for effective rehabilitation strategies. Forest therapy, involving structured activities in natural environments, has shown significant beneficial effects in various health-related outcomes but no studies have assessed its direct effect on functional recovery after acute ischemic stroke. We assessed whether forest therapy is effective in recovering functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy. This prospective cohort study included patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset. Participants were randomized into forest therapy (n=15) and control (n=27) groups. The forest therapy group underwent five sessions of guided activities in a national forest center, while the control group received standard outpatient rehabilitation. Primary outcome was changes in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, with secondary outcomes including grip strength, body composition, and psychological well-being assessed using the Worker's Stress Response Inventory and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule from the time of hospital discharge to 3 months after stroke onset. Change of mRS were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation to compare changes over time between the two groups. At three-month follow-up, the forest therapy group demonstrated a significant improvement in mRS scores compared to the control group (p=0.034). Although no significant differences were found in grip strength or body composition, reductions in somatization and job-related stress were observed in the forest therapy group. No significant changes in positive or negative affect were detected. Forest therapy can contribute to functional recovery and reduce stress-related indicators in acute ischemic stroke patients. These findings support that the integration of forest therapy into stroke rehabilitation protocols to address both physical and psychological aspects of recovery, highlighting the potential for multidisciplinary approaches in post-stroke care.

Affective motivations for substance misuse differentially relate to consideration of multiple costs during effortful decision making.

Heightened sensitivity to costs during decision making consistently has been related to substance use. However, no work in this area has manipulated cost information to examine how people evaluate and compare multiple costs. Furthermore, limited work has examined how affective motivations for substance use modulate the evaluation of cost information. We administered a loss-frame variant of the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task in a diverse community sample (N = 126). Individuals who use substances to avoid negative affect allocated comparable effort across varying likelihoods of loss and computational modeling parameters indicated that they did not systematically consider cost information, which ultimately led these individuals to exert effort when it was disadvantageous to do so. Individuals who use substances to enhance positive affect allocated effort when loss magnitudes were small, suggesting that they effectively compared costs and worked to minimize those costs. Motivations for substance use differentially relate to the comparison of costly information, ultimately influencing effective decision making. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Designing museum experiences for eudaimonic or hedonic well-being: insights from interviews with museum visitors

ABSTRACT Lately, museums are trying to transform into spaces prioritizing enrichment and well-being. This paper investigates how the design of museum experiences is associated with the visitors’ well-being, drawing on psychological theories of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Through structured interviews conducted at a hedonicly designed museum (Museum of Chocolate, N = 10) and an eudaimonicly designed museum (Museum of Broken Relationships, N = 10), we explored the impact of different design approaches on visitors’ experiences and their hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Thematic coding showed distinct experiences. The hedonic museum, characterized by sensory engagement and personal enjoyment, stimulated mindfulness, restoration, and positive affect associated with visitors’ hedonic well-being. In comparison, the eudaimonic museum, emphasizing personal enrichment and reflection, promoted escapism, contemplation, and mixed affect, which was associated with visitors’ eudaimonic well-being. These insights carry significant implications for museum experience design, offering guidance on creating enriching experiences that prioritize visitors’ well-being in different ways.

Restriction of Mobile Phone Usage at Bed Time: Effect on Sleep Quality, Mood and Cognitive Function

Introduction: Mobile phones are integral to modern life, but excessive use, particularly at night, can lead to disrupt well-being. Limiting mobile phone use before bedtime may improve individual well-being. This study aimed to evaluate whether restricting mobile phone use at bedtime enhances sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function. Methodology: Undergraduate students from a selected engineering college were assessed for bedtime mobile phone use. Sixty-eight students were chosen via simple random sampling. A self-reported questionnaire including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale evaluated sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function before implementing restrictions. The "Lock My Phone" app was used to enforce these restrictions. Post-intervention assessments were conducted on the 15th and 30th days. Results: Before the intervention, all students reported poor sleep quality, 80.8% had reduced positive affect, 91.1% experienced high negative affect, and only 23.5% had normal cognitive function. Significant improvements were observed in sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function post-restriction (p<0.001). Conclusion: Restricting mobile phone use before bedtime significantly improved sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function among undergraduate students.

Behavioral Changes and Long-Term Cortical Thickness Alterations in Women with Fibromyalgia

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine long-term brain and behavioral changes in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to healthy individuals. MethodsData from 33 female volunteers with FM and 33 healthy controls women paired by age and school degree were used to analyze the cortical thickness from high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained through a 3T-MRI scanner. Additionally, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ), and the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety rating scales were used to evaluate the behavioral changes. ResultsThe findings indicate significant cortical structure differences in the right cerebral hemisphere between groups in the insular anterior cortex precentral and postcentral gyrus (P < .001). The FM group scored higher for alexithymia (P < .01), negative affect (P < .01), anxiety (P < .01), and depression (P < .01) symptoms, on the other hand, scored lower for positive affect (P < .01). No differences were found on the left cerebral hemisphere. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the right insular anterior cortex and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (P < .001). ConclusionThis study showed long-term brain and behavioral changes in patients with FM, suggesting notable neurophysiological alterations associated with this chronic pain condition. It provides new insights into how FM may affect brain health and potential biomarkers for the condition.

Psychobiological Stress Response Profiles in Current and Remitted Depression: A Person-Centered, Multisystem Approach

BackgroundA dysregulated stress response, including exaggerated affective reactivity and abnormal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity, has been implicated in the etiology, maintenance and relapse of major depressive disorder (MDD). Among adolescents, discordant affective and physiological stress response profiles have been linked to negative affective outcomes and increased risk for psychopathology. Whether these findings extend to adults with varying degree of MDD risk is unclear, as are possible links to various risk factors. MethodsWe used a person-centered, multisystem approach in a sample of 119 unmedicated adults with current or remitted MDD, as well as individuals without past MDD to evaluate psychobiological stress response profiles. Multi-trajectory modeling was applied to positive affect, negative affect, and salivary cortisol (CORT) levels in response to the Maastricht Acute Stress Test. ResultsAnalyses identified four within-person profiles, one typical, Normative (n=32, 26.9%); and three atypical: CORT Hyperreactivity Affective Stability (n=17, 14.3%), CORT Hyporeactivity Affective Reactivity #1 (n=45, 37.8%), and CORT Hyporeactivity Affective Reactivity #2 (n=25, 21.0%). Validating the assumption of a Normative profile and increased risk for psychopathology in non-normative stress-response profiles, coherent associations emerged between stress response profiles and clinical status, depression severity, anhedonia, perceived stress, childhood adversity and reports of well-being, suggesting increased risk for psychopathology for individuals with a hyperreactive or discordant hyporeactive stress response profiles. ConclusionThis work advances our understanding of stress response mechanisms in MDD and underscores the potential of targeted interventions to enhance resilience and reduce psychopathology based on individual stress response profiles.

Subjective Well-Being of Parents and Childless People in Older Age in Germany

AbstractThe growing number of older childless individuals in Western societies has raised concerns about their subjective well-being. In this study, we scrutinize the subjective well-being of parents and childless individuals aged 60 years and older. We examine subjective well-being as a multi-dimensional construct encompassing life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Based on the value-of-children approach, we hypothesize that childless individuals experience lower subjective well-being than parents and that the disparity in well-being differs with age, gender, and the quality of the parent-child relationship. For our analysis, we use data from a nationally representative sample of adults aged 60 years and older (n = 10,682) drawn from the German Ageing Survey. Our findings from random effects regression models show that childless individuals report lower life satisfaction, less positive affect, and more negative affect than parents. These associations are larger for men than for women but do not vary significantly across age groups. Furthermore, our results suggest that the benefits of parenthood strongly depend on the quality of the parent-child relationship. Childless people report lower subjective well-being than parents with a close emotional bond with their children, but similar or even higher subjective well-being than parents with an emotionally distant parent-child relationship. In sum, our study indicates that childless people experience, on average, lower well-being across all three dimensions of subjective well-being in older age. However, under specific circumstances, childless individuals may fare better than parents.

Induced negative affect hinders self-referential belief updating in response to social feedback.

When people receive feedback from others, this is an opportunity for them to update their self-views. People with mental health problems (e.g., depression), however, often have difficulty using social feedback to update negative beliefs about themselves. To better understand when and how difficulties with integrating social feedback manifest, we investigated how current affect influences social feedback processing. Our preregistered hypothesis was that negative affect hinders change in participants' self-views in response to social feedback. In a nonclinical sample of little diversity (N = 117) in 2023, participants were invited to a laboratory examination in groups of three-five people. After indicating how they thought about themselves in terms of a number of personality traits (e.g., friendly), participants played a popular parlor game together for 45 min. Subsequently, they indicated how they perceived the other players in terms of their personality. Before receiving anonymous feedback, suggesting that the others perceived them as a highly likeable person, participants underwent the induction of negative versus positive affect versus a neutral control procedure. The results show that the induction of negative affect before receiving social feedback hindered its integration into participants' self-views, relative to the induction of positive affect. Changes in participants' self-views remained relatively stable also 1 day later, except for the control group, in which it slightly declined. These findings confirm that negative affect can indeed hamper the integration of (positive) social feedback. Since negative affect is prevalent in many mental disorders, this might contribute to their problems with social feedback processing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Stressprävention in der Elementarpädagogik: Mentalisieren und Bindung als Ressourcen im pädagogischen Alltag

The quality of the educator-child relationship as well as the ability to mentalize appear to be protective factors against stress that can improve the well-being of elementary educators given their high workload. Educators who have positive mental models of relationships experience more positive affect in their inter­actions with children, which promotes their well-being. Moreover, an appropriate perception of mental states allows for a more constructive approach to stressful situations, even in the presence of insecure in­ternal working models of relationships, because negative affect can be identified and regulated. In a study of prospective elementary educators (N = 216), we observed the expected correlations between attachment behavior and mentalization ability with well-being and stress levels. Mediation analyses showed that men­talization capacity partially explained the influence of attachment behavior on stress and well-being. The results suggest that mentalization training could support well-being and improve the abilities of elementary educators in stressful conditions.

Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) from a submaximal 20-m shuttle-run test accurately predict children's VO2peak, but when should we stop the test?

The purpose of the study was to explore the validity, test-retest reliability and affective responses of a submaximal 20-m shuttle-run test (20mSRT) stopped at 6 on the Eston-Parfitt (EP) scale. The secondary aim was to examine and compare two submaximal 20mSRT protocols with different RPE end points (EP6 vs. EP7) using previously published data. Twenty-five children (16 boys; 13.4 ± 1.0years; 162.1 ± 8.7cm; 49.1 ± 6.6kg) completed three exercise tests (graded exercise test [GXT], 2 submaximal 20mSRT). The EP scale and Feeling scale were used to measure RPE and affect, respectively. The two submaximal 20mSRTs were stopped after participants reported EP6. Individual speed-RPE relationships from the submaximal 20mSRTs were linearly regressed to predict peak speed and then used to estimate VO2peak. Previously published data (n = 25) used comparable methods, except that the participants stopped at EP7. In the EP6 protocol, a two-factor repeated measures ANOVA revealed non-significant Test and Sex main effects (p > 0.05). Reliability analysis revealed intraclass correlation coefficient of ~ 0.7 (95%CI [0.432,0.867], p < 0.001) between the submaximal 20mSRTs. Significant differences in end-test affect between the GXT and submaximal 20mSRTs were found (p < 0.001), with GXT more negative. ANOVA revealed no significant differences in end-test affect between EP6 and EP7 protocols; however, frequency count analysis revealed EP6 to result in more positive end-test affect. Submaximal 20mSRT utilising RPE may offer valid predictions in VO2peak while minimising negative affect. Test end points of EP6 and EP7 both offer valid predictions in VO2peak. EP6 may be more beneficial in avoiding negative affect, even though a reduction in test-retest reliability was observed.

The Effect of Job Satisfaction on Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Effect of Positive Affect Moderated by COVID-19

This study examines the effect of job satisfaction on life satisfaction, focusing on the mediating effect of positive affect moderated by COVID-19. The participants were 287 wage-earning graduates under 35 years of age who had graduated from culinary arts programmes and participated in the 2017–2019 Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey conducted by the Korea Employment Information Service. Hypotheses were tested using Hayes’ MACRO process models 4 and 8. The results are summarised as follows. First, higher extrinsic and intrinsic job satisfaction among culinary graduates was associated with increased positive affect and life satisfaction. Second, positive affect partially mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. Finally, the indirect effect of positive affect on the relationship between extrinsic job satisfaction and life satisfaction decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Therefore, the industry should develop systems and programmes to enhance both extrinsic job satisfaction (such as wages and working hours) and intrinsic job satisfaction (such as personal growth, development potential, and a sense of accomplishment) among young chefs. Furthermore, industries and government agencies should prepare sustainable measures to maintain job satisfaction, positive affect, and life satisfaction among employees during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wooden Interiors Improve Heart Rate Variability-Derived Psychophysiological Well-Being: An Acute Cross-Over Study

Mental health is a significant public concern. Given that individuals spend extended periods indoors, understanding the psychophysiological health effects of indoor materials on well-being is crucial. This study compared the effects of wooden and resin plaster rooms on psychophysiological well-being. Well-being was assessed using heart rate variability measurements and an affective well-being questionnaire. Subjective perceptions were also evaluated using a semantic differential questionnaire. The results indicated higher heart rate variability in the wooden room compared to the reference room. Participants breathed about one breath per minute more slowly in the wooden room, with a negative correlation between heart rate variability and respiratory rate. Positive affect was elevated, and negative affect was reduced in the wooden room, which was also perceived more favorably in sensory evaluations. The findings suggest that wooden interiors are preferred over artificial materials, enhancing both physiological and psychological well-being.

Association between positive affect, flourishing, quality of life, and psychological distress in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose To examine the associations between state positive psychological well-being (PPWB) constructs, mood, and quality of life (QOL) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors. Design The study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data. Sample/Methods We analyzed self-report data assessing positive affect, flourishing, QOL, depression and anxiety, and PTSD symptoms from 158 allogeneic HSCT recipients at day-100 post-transplant enrolled in supportive care studies. Findings Univariate analysis showed that factors associated with greater levels of various state PPWB constructs include older age, disability status, greater social support, and presence of graft-versus-host disease. Multivariate analysis showed that state PPWB constructs—greater levels of positive affect and flourishing—were significantly associated with better QOL and lower PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptomatology. Implications Our findings suggest that longitudinal studies are needed to examine the links between state PPWB constructs and HSCT outcomes, which may inform population specific interventions and opportunities to improve outcomes.

Personal characteristic differences among Doctor of Physical Therapy students with unique sociodemographic factors

BackgroundThe Association of American Medical Colleges suggests an Experiences-Attributes-Metrics framework for holistic review, but there is minimal research on demographic and personal characteristic attributes and the interplay between these Attributes subcategories. Understanding how personal attributes may vary among students considered represented and those considered underrepresented in one or more categories is critical to avoid unintentionally perpetuating practices that favor represented groups. This study explored differences in six personal characteristics either consistently related to academic performance or deemed positive professional traits based on diversity characteristics (categories of underrepresentation), age, and sex.MethodsThree cohorts of first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students at a single institution were invited to participate in this prospective, observational study. Participants completed six surveys: PROMIS® General Self-efficacy, PROMIS® Anxiety, 12-item Grit Scale, Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and PROMIS® Positive Affect. T-tests and ANOVAs (or nonparametric equivalents) were used to examine differences in these measures by number of diversity characteristics, age, and sex. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine if diversity characteristics explained additional variance in each of the personal attribute scores after controlling for age and sex.ResultsOne Hundred and Forty Five students participated (80.7% female, 77.9% < 25 years old, 51% 0 diversity characteristics). Students with more diversity characteristics and males reported higher self-efficacy and resilience (p’s < 0.05). Females reported higher anxiety (p’s < 0.01). Diversity characteristics explained additional variance in self-efficacy (3.3%, p = 0.02) and resilience (2.5%, p = 0.05) after controlling for age and sex. Grit, perceived stress, and positive affect did not show any group differences.ConclusionsUnderrepresented students demonstrated higher self-efficacy and resilience than their represented peers, qualities that may be important to overcome challenges prior to and during graduate school. Males exhibited higher self-efficacy and resilience, but lower anxiety than females which is generally consistent across higher education. Grit, perceived stress, and positive affect were similar across all students and may be less useful to create a diverse learning environment. Further studies should investigate differences in attributes among admitted and unadmitted students and the relationship to future performance for admitted students.

The effect of humanising nature.

Humans may have an innate need to affiliate with nature; this need has been termed biophilia. Humanising nature may connect to biophilia. An experimental design with 167 participants tested the hypothesis that a humanised description of the functioning of trees that focused on similarities between tree and human functioning would have a greater impact than a description of purely biological functions of trees. Participants randomly assigned to the humanising nature condition had higher mean scores for positive affect and empathy related to the target aspect of nature as well as greater pro-environmental intention. A MANOVA showed that the humanising nature condition had a significantly greater overall impact than the control condition. Positive affect and empathy were significantly different between groups. A serial mediation analysis found that positive affect and empathy connected the intervention with pro-environmental intention. Humanising nature holds promise as an approach to meeting biophilia needs. The findings may be globally relevant to the interaction of humans with nature.

Interpersonal and individual effects of an app-based Christian and Islamic heart meditation intervention in healthy adults: protocol of a stratified randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe academic development and widespread adoption of meditation practices for well-being and therapy have predominantly focused on secularised adaptations of Buddhist and Hindu techniques. This study aims to expand the field by investigating Christian and Islamic meditation that emphasize the spiritual significance of the heart through elements of visualisation and recitation. It compares the effects of spiritual heart-centred meditation with mindfulness meditation and a waitlist control, focusing on dimensions of social functioning, psychophysiology, cognition, and mental health.MethodThis study employs a stratified 3-arm randomised controlled method with mixed-method repeated measures across three assessment time points: before intervention (T1), after an 8-week intervention (T2), and at a 3-month follow up (T3). The three conditions include spiritual meditation (either Christian or Islamic), mindfulness meditation (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – MBSR), and a waitlist. Participants will be stratified into Christian and Muslim samples and randomly allocated to the spiritual meditation, MBSR, or waitlist control conditions. Importantly, participants assigned to the spiritual meditation condition will be matched to the spiritual meditation program corresponding to their religion. The intervention will be administered through a mobile phone app with daily 20-minute guided meditation sessions for eight weeks. Primary outcomes pertain to the domain of interpersonal functioning, focusing on prosociality, forgiveness, empathy, and perspective taking. Secondary outcomes include physiology: pain tolerance, pain intensity, stress reactivity assessed via heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), psychophysiological reactivity associated with a forgiveness task as measured through HR and HRV, attention (alerting, orienting, and executive attention networks), and mental health (stress, depression, anxiety, subjective well-being, positive and negative affect).DiscussionThis trial aims to test the effects of an app-based Christian and Islamic meditation, compared to secular mindfulness and a waitlist, using a randomised controlled trial. If the results yield positive outcomes, this study will support the efficacy of these contemplations, offering practitioners a way to enhance their well-being within their religious framework.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06136676. Registered on 18 November 2023.https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06136676.