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Since the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there have been many novel advances in our understanding of brain structure and function. More recently, functional MRI has revealed networks of spatially isolated brain regions with temporally correlated activity, forming resting state networks. Research has long shown that mindfulness can produce psychological improvements. A new wave of research is demonstrating how mindfulness is associated with alterations in these brain networks. The current thesis examined changes in patterns of functional connectivity associated with scores from a commonly used mindfulness questionnaire in three resting state networks: the default mode network, the central executive network, and the salience network. Independent component analysis data from 32 healthy participants revealed that mindfulness is associated with altered patterns of functional connectivity in all three networks. For example, decreased connectivity was observed in the precuneus in two of the networks, a region associated with mind wandering. This suggests that mindfulness has a physiological influence on the resting state functional connectivity of the brain that coincides with the underlying principles of mindfulness. / May 2017

Mindfulness meditation är idag en vedertagen behandlingsform mot psykisk ohälsa där behandlingen ämnar att öka medvetenhet och närvaro. Tidigare forskning visar på en positiv effekt av mindfulness med flertalet fysiologiska och psykologiska vinster. Idag lider många svenskar av psykisk ohälsa, en oroväckande ökande trend som år 2013 kostade Sverige omkring 70 miljarder kronor. Hälsa är en stor del i den idrottsvetenskapliga utbildningen och därför genomfördes följande studie som ämnades mäta hälsovinsten av korta sektioner av mindfulness meditation, 5-20 minuter, genom en interventionsstudie på universitetsstudenter i Sverige. För att testa om mindfulness meditation kan bidra till en ökad psykisk hälsa och lägre grad av ohälsa, estimeras graden stress, ångest och depression med enkäten DASS-21. Interventionsgruppen jämfördes med en kontrollgrupp som enbart fyllde i enkäten veckovis och mellan grupperna uppmättes ingen signifikant skillnad efter interventionen för stress (P=0,667), ångest (P=0,208) och depression (P=0,525). Resultat inom interventionsgruppen visar dock på att interventionen lindrade psykisk ohälsa genom minskad stress (P=0,002), ångest (P=0,003) och depression (P=0,05) enligt graderingen i enkäten DASS-21 och därmed skapar en bättre psykisk hälsa hos studenterna. Inom kontrollgruppen kunde ingen signifikant förändring på hälsa påvisas för stress (P=0,082), ångest (P=0,905) och depression (P=0,462). Hälsovinsten som uppmättes inom interventionsgruppen kan bidra till bättre studieresultat och en högre kompetensnivå hos studenterna. Därför föreslås att fler studier genomförs på området för att fastställa ytterligare hälsovinster, effekter och orsaken till effekten som uppstår genom korta, kostnadsfria och lättillgängliga sektioner av mindfulness meditation samt studera vidare bakomliggande källa till förbättringen av hälsa.

Parental depression can interfere with numerous aspects of parents’ lives, including parenting behaviors. Previous research has explored the relationship between past parental depression or current depressive symptoms and negative parenting behaviors. The current study investigates two models of mediation to explain the relationship between parental depression and parenting. In the first, it explores whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between past depression severity and three parenting behaviors: withdrawn/disengaged parenting, low levels of positive parenting and poor monitoring/supervision. In the second, it explores whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between current depressive symptoms and four parenting behaviors: withdrawn/disengaged parenting, low levels of positive parenting, poor monitoring/supervision and inconsistent discipline. The sample draws from two research sites, one in Burlington, Vermont and the other in Nashville, Tennessee and included previously or currently depressed parents (n=121; mean age = 42.5 years, SD = 7.40 years, range = 24-69), and their 9-15 year old children (n=167; mean age = 11.40 years, SD = 2.30 years, range = 9-15). All participating parents and children completed written measures at the time of their initial assessment. The overall findings of this study indicate that parents’ current depressive symptoms, but not past depression severity, increase the risk of low levels of positive parenting and parenting with greater inconsistent discipline, and that these associations are mediated by a parent’s level of mindfulness.

Doctor of Philosophy / Psychological Sciences / Laura A. Brannon / Previous research suggests that college-age students, namely first-year college individuals, are particularly prone to experience relational conflict. Interpersonal forgiveness has been well-documented as a variable that can reduce relational conflict among young adults. However, limited empirical research to date has explored the motivation and ability of college-age students to engage in forgiveness granting behaviors when they are the victim of an interpersonal conflict; this lack of empirical research is especially prevalent when considering the perpetrator’s perspective and why (motivation) and how (ability) perpetrators engage in forgiveness seeking behaviors following conflict. Given this gap in previous research, the current dissertation assessed forgiveness granting and forgiveness seeking behaviors for victims and perpetrators of an interpersonal transgression, respectively. Using attitude and behavioral change models as theoretical guides, we exposed young adults to a message pertaining to reasons/motivations for why they should engage in forgiveness behaviors as well as two training techniques (i.e. mindfulness and implementation planning) that may promote the ability to express granting/seeking forgiveness. Study 1 focused on naturalistic, self-reported transgression experiences occurring within close relationships, while Study 2 focused on a standardized transgression experience occurring in a lab setting. Across these two studies, we found that participants who were exposed to reasons/motives for forgiveness as well as a mindfulness or implementation planning technique were more likely to engage in forgiveness grating/seeking behaviors than participants who were not exposed to this information. Furthermore, results suggest that the participants’ mood and attitudes toward forgiveness granting/seeking were enhanced by receiving both a message and a training technique. These results were especially pronounced for victims in the mindfulness training conditions for both Study 1 and Study 2. Overall, our results suggest that receiving both a message emphasizing motives/reasons for forgiveness as well as an easy to implement technique may assist young adults in alleviating severe interpersonal conflict (Study 1) as well as every day, slight transgressions (Study 2). The findings from Study 1 and Study 2 add unique knowledge to previous forgiveness literature and help to inform previous research about the process victims and perpetrators undergo when engaging in forgiveness following relational conflict.

This research study explores the experience and effects of long-term practice by six student practitioners of secular mindfulness, compassion and insight forming the Mindfulness-Based Living model incorporated into the MSc in Mindfulness Studies at the University of Aberdeen. A review of existing literature on the topic of mindfulness highlights that research is predominantly postpositivist and quantitative in approach, only recently incorporating limited qualitative studies, and is focused chiefly on mindfulness as a treatment for a range of mental and physical disorders. However, the nature of mindfulness particularly when practised in conjunction with compassion and insight suggests that it is a more intense, complex, nuanced and pervasive experience than is reflected in the literature. An exploration of Buddhist and Western phenomenology highlights important parallels with contemporary secular mindfulness studies indicating, firstly, the value of an in-depth qualitative study capable of surfacing potentially transformative effects of the practice of mindfulness and related disciplines, and, secondly, the potential relevance of mindfulness to the praxis of phenomenological research. Towards these aims, this study utilises an hermeneutic phenomenological approach incorporating mindfulness approaches in its execution. The study takes a dialogical approach, intentionally surfacing the inherent dynamic between researcher and participant. Interview data were collected from participants on multiple occasions over durations of between seven and twelve months and are presented as rich narrative texts organised around emergent themes. Analysis indicates the occurrence of intense, embodied, authentic transcendental experiences that pervade day-to-day life and extend beyond a remedial effect. Researcher data indicate the usefulness of mindfulness to the practice of phenomenological research, supporting embodied interview and phenomenological reduction. The study highlights findings useful to the design of secular programmes and to further research, notably the incorporation of compassion and insight approaches, the centrality of embodiment, and the effects of long term practice on social cohesion.

<p>För att undersöka vad medveten närvaro kan betyda i dialektisk beteendeterapi (DBT) meningskoncentrerades nio intervjuer. Medveten närvaro hade en positiv betydelse för samtliga deltagare. Det centrala för deltagarna var färdigheterna observera och en sak i taget. Färdigheterna hjälpte patienterna att stanna upp i ett negativt händelseförlopp. Behandlarna menade att medveten närvaro hjälpte vid stressrelaterade situationer. Samtliga deltagare underströk betydelsen av färdighetsträningen i grupp och praktiska övningar. Det fanns ett tydligt behov av att förenkla teorin kring medveten närvaro i DBT samt att medveten närvaro behövde få ett större utrymme. Om medveten närvaro kan hjälpa patienter i DBT att stanna upp i ett destruktivt händelseförlopp så är det en verkan av stor betydelse för patienterna såväl som för anhöriga och sjukvården.</p>

För att undersöka vad medveten närvaro kan betyda i dialektisk beteendeterapi (DBT) meningskoncentrerades nio intervjuer. Medveten närvaro hade en positiv betydelse för samtliga deltagare. Det centrala för deltagarna var färdigheterna observera och en sak i taget. Färdigheterna hjälpte patienterna att stanna upp i ett negativt händelseförlopp. Behandlarna menade att medveten närvaro hjälpte vid stressrelaterade situationer. Samtliga deltagare underströk betydelsen av färdighetsträningen i grupp och praktiska övningar. Det fanns ett tydligt behov av att förenkla teorin kring medveten närvaro i DBT samt att medveten närvaro behövde få ett större utrymme. Om medveten närvaro kan hjälpa patienter i DBT att stanna upp i ett destruktivt händelseförlopp så är det en verkan av stor betydelse för patienterna såväl som för anhöriga och sjukvården.

The objective of this study is to determine whether the practice of yoga is associated with enhanced emotion regulation and empathy, and if the relationship between these variables is mediated by mindfulness. It was hypothesized that the participants with more yoga experience will show more skillful emotion regulation, more mindfulness, and higher empathetic ability. The relationship of exercise experience to the dependent variables was also examined to evaluate if it differed from the relationship of yoga experience to the dependent variables. It was also hypothesized that mindfulness mediates the effect of yoga experience on the other variables. The study sampled both a college students (n =185) and individuals in the community (n =81) with a range of yoga experience, from no experience to experts. Yoga experience was measured with three independent variables in the community sample, including lifetime number of hours of yoga, frequency of yoga practice, and importance of yoga practice. In the college student sample, individuals who practiced yoga were compared to those who had never practiced yoga in a dichotomous independent variable. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ; Godin & Shepard, 1985), Five Factor Mindfulness Measure (FFMQ; Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ; Gross & John, 2003), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980) were used to assess the study constructs. Preliminary analyses were conducted to examine the relationship of demographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity/race, religion, religious attendance, income, education, and relationship status) with the dependent variables, and demographic variables that were found to be significantly related to dependent variables were controlled for in the primary analyses. The hypotheses were analyzed using hierarchical regression, simple regression, and mediation. The study hypotheses were partially supported by the study findings. In the community sample, those with more yoga experience exhibited increased mindfulness, improved emotion regulation, and higher perspective taking. Mindfulness was found to mediate the relationship between yoga experience and suppression and the relationship between yoga experience and reappraisal. The results of the college student sample yielded non-significant findings. The implications of the study findings are discussed. / text

Self-compassion is a psychological construct that involves being open to experiencing one's pain and suffering and directing feelings of kindness inwards during moments of distress. Research has found that high levels of self-compassion are negatively associated with depression, anxiety, rumination, and avoidance, and positively associated with overall quality of life. The present study looked at self-compassion as a predictor of psychopathology and functional outcomes in a sample of trauma-exposed OEF/OIF veterans. Baseline data was used from Project PREDICT from of the Department of Veteran Affairs VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research with Returning War Veterans. The relations among self-compassion, mindfulness, and experiential avoidance were analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used and results found that higher levels of self-compassion and mindfulness predicted lower levels of psychopathology and higher overall functioning. In addition, experiential avoidance partially or fully mediated the association between mindfulness and self-compassion and PTSD symptoms, psychological distress, and functionality. Supplemental regression analyses were also conducted examining the relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion with several outcome variables. Results found that self-compassion significantly contributed to the model predicting acceptance of chronic pain. In addition, mindfulness significantly contributed to the model predicting problematic alcohol use. These findings suggest that inclusion of acceptance-based interventions, specifically self-compassion and mindfulness, may improve emotional distress as well as overall functioning in trauma-exposed combat veterans. / text