The primary purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and stress habituation. The investigators propose to measure the effect of mindfulness on stress habituation by randomly assigning participants to a 6-week mindfulness-based stress reduction group intervention, a cognitive-behavioral skills group comparison intervention, or a waitlist control condition followed by repeated acute psychosocial stress testing (2 laboratory sessions on 2 separate days). Saliva will be collected from participants throughout both laboratory testing sessions to measure HPA axis activation (an essential stress-responsive system), along with other measures of physiological and psychological stress (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, emotions). Mediators and moderators of treatment outcome will be examined. The cognitive-behavioral skills group condition is an appropriate comparison group due to the well-documented efficacy of cognitive-behavioral interventions on stress.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
150
A modified version of traditional MBSR. The current study's version of MBSR is shortened to 6-weeks.
A 6-week, 2-hour per group, skills group that focuses on various cognitive-behavioral skills for stress reduction (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation; cognitive restructuring).
Perceived Stress Scale
A 10-item self-report measure that examines perceived stress. The measure produces one total score. The investigators will measure the change in total score from baseline to the 6-week assessment.
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks after baseline.
Salivary cortisol response to repeated acute psychosocial stress
4 saliva samples will be collected before and after a psychosocial stressor task, which will be administered on two separate occasions separated in time by at least 48 hours. All saliva samples will be assayed for salivary cortisol using enzyme-linked immunoassays. The investigators will measure the change in cortisol stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
Cardiovascular response to repeated acute psychosocial stress
Heart rate and blood pressure will be assessed non-invasively and periodically before, during, and after non-invasively a psychosocial stressor task, with an Omron Health Care HEM-907XL Professional Blood Pressure Monitor. The investigators will measure the change in heart rate and blood pressure stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
Autonomic response to repeated acute psychosocial stress
Heart rate variability will be assessed continuously before, during, and after non-invasively a psychosocial stressor task, with a MP150 device manufactured by BIOPAC. The investigators will measure the change in heart rate variability stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
Dispositional Mindfulness
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Equanimity
The Non-Attachment Scale
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Smoking
Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Alcohol
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption items
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Marijuana
Single item assessing frequency of marijuana use
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Perceived control over thoughts
Thought Control Ability Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Coping Skills
Brief-COPE measure
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Depressed mood
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Anxiety
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks later
Social Connectedness
Social Connectedness Scale-Revised
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Optimism
Life Orientation Test
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Worry
Penn State Worry Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Experiential Avoidance
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Emotion Regulation
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Negative Urgency
UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale: Negative Urgency Items
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Chronic Stress
Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
Sleep
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: Baseline and 6-weeks
State Affect
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) will be used to assess state affect and specific emotions several times before and after a psychosocial stressor task. The investigators will measure the change in emotion response profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
State mindfulness
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) - state version. The investigators will measure the change in state mindfulness from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
Implicit association between self and shame
A shame experience and self implicit association test will be used to measure experiential self-referential processing of present moment shame. The investigators will measure the change in implicit association between self and shame from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
State rumination
Thoughts Questionnaire (TQ). The investigators will measure the change in state rumination from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
Stress appraisals
Cognitive task appraisals will be assessed before and after a psychosocial stressor task. The investigators will measure the change in appraisals from the first stressor exposure to the second.
Time frame: Post-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)
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