The Influential Mechanisms of Theory of Mind on Prosocial Behavior and the Effect of Mindfulness Intervention

Background:Theory of Mind(ToM)and empathy are crucial cognitive and emotional capacities that influence social interactions.While their role in promoting prosocial behavior has been established,the potential moderating effect of mindfulness on this relationship remains unexplored.Understanding these complex interactions is vital for developing effective interventions to foster prosocial behavior among college students.This study examines the influence of ToM on college students’prosocial behavior and explores the moderating role of mindfulness in this relationship.Methods:A mixed-methods approach combining questionnaires and experimental design was employed.Study 1:A survey of 759 college students(mean age 22.03 years;477 females)was conducted using the ToM Scale,Interpersonal Reactivity Index,Prosocial Behavior Tendency Scale,and Mindfulness Awareness Scale.Data were analyzed using correlation and moderated mediation analyses.Study 2:An 8-week mindfulness attention training program was implemented for the intervention group and compared with a control group.Mindfulness training served as a moderating variable to validate Model 59 from Study 1.Results:1.Study 1 found:(a)ToM was significantly positively correlated with prosocial behavior(r=0.31,p<0.01).(b)Empathy partially mediated the relationship between ToM and prosocial behavior(β=0.10,p<0.001,95%CI[0.06,0.14]).(c)Mindfulness negatively moderated the direct path between ToM and three dimensions of prosocial behavior,as well as the indirect path between empathy and kin altruism and reciprocal altruism.Specifically,high levels of mindfulness weakened the direct impact of ToM on prosocial behavior.High levels of mindfulness also weakened the indirect influence of ToM on prosocial behavior through empathy.2.Study 2 results showed:(a)The intervention group had significantly higher levels of trait mindfulness compared to the control group(t=2.56,p<0.05).(b)The validity of the moderated mediation model 59 from Study 1 was verified.Conclusion:While ToM and empathy play crucial roles in fostering prosocial behavior,mindfulness exhibits a more complex influence than anticipated,potentially inhibiting prosocial behavior under certain circumstances.These findings offer novel insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying prosocial behavior and underscore the importance of considering multiple interacting factors in its promotion.

Mindfulness Facets and Psychological Well-Being among Meditators:Serenity as a Mediating Process

Guided by the theoretical processes of mindfulness and psychological well-being,this study examined serenity as a mediator between mindfulness facets and psychological well-being,as indexed by depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.Participants were 133 mindfulness practitioners who took part in a 3-day transnational meditation event in Hong Kong.Upon informed consent,participants completed a self-report questionnaire.The findings from structural equation modeling showed that serenity mediated the relation between two facets of mindfulness,including describing and nonreacting to inner experience,and life satisfaction.Serenity also mediated the relation between the mindfulness facet of describing and depressive symptoms.Direct associations were indicated between two mindfulness facets,including observing and nonjudging of inner experience,and depressive symptoms.Taken together,the findings revealed mindfulness facets as major correlates of serenity and psychological outcomes among Chinese meditation practitioners.To foster psychological well-being,researchers,educators,and practitioners should pay attention to the role of serenity,describing,and nonreacting to inner experience in mental health.

Mindfulness and mindful parenting:Strategies for preschoolers with behavioral issues

The behavior issues of preschoolers are closely related to their parents'parenting styles.This editorial discusses the value and strategies for solving behavior issues in preschoolers from the perspectives of mindfulness and mindful parenting.We expect that upcoming studies will place greater emphasis on the behavioral concerns of preschoolers and the parenting practices that shape them,particularly focusing on proactive interventions for preschoolers'behavioral issues.

Mindfulness training in medical education as a means to improve resilience,empathy,and mental health in the medical profession

The high rates of depression,burnout,and increased risk of suicide among medical students,residents,and physicians in comparison with other careers signal a mental health crisis within our profession.We contend that this crisis coupled with the inadequate acquisition of interpersonal skills during medical education results from the interaction between a challenging environment and the mental capital of individuals.Additionally,we posit that mindfulness-based practices are instrumental for the development of major components of mental capital,such as resilience,flexibility of mind,and learning skills,while also serving as a pathway to enhance empathy,compassion,self-awareness,conflict resolution,and relational abilities.Importantly,the evidence base supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions has been increasing over the years,and a growing number of medical schools have already integrated mindfulness into their curricula.While we acknowledge that mindfulness is not a panacea for all educational and mental health problems in this field,we argue that there is currently an unprecedented opportunity to gather momentum,spread and study mindfulness-based programs in medical schools around the world as a way to address some longstanding shortcomings of the medical profession and the health and educational systems upon which it is rooted.

Mediating Effect of Mindfulness,Self-Esteem and Psychological Resilience in the Relation between Childhood Maltreatment and Life Satisfaction

Childhood maltreatment,as a typical early adverse environment,is known to have a negative impact on one’s life satisfaction.Mindfulness,on the other hand,may serve as a protective factor.This study explored the mediating role of mindfulness and its related variables–positive thoughts,psychological resilience and self-esteem.In order to testify the mechanism,we administered Childhood Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ),Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS),Mindful Attention Awareness Scale(MAAS),Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC)and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale(RSES)to a non-clinical sample of Chinese university students(N=1021).The results indicated that positive thoughts did not mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction,but self-esteem(β=−0.194,95%CI=[−0.090,−0.040])and psychological resilience(β=−0.063,95%CI=[−0.059,−0.020])mediated the relationship,as well as the“mindfulness-selfesteem”(β=−0.061,95%CI=[−0.287,−0.126])and“mindfulness-psychological resilience”(β=−0.035,95%CI=[−0.115,−0.034]).The results of this study were helpful to understand the relationship between childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction and provided a theoretical basis for the development of mindfulness intervention programs from the perspective of positive psychology.

Is Peer Victimization Associated with Higher Online Trolling among Adolescents?The Mediation of Hostile Attribution Bias and the Moderation of Trait Mindfulness

Background:In recent years,online trolling has garnered significant attention due to its detrimental effects on mental health and social well-being.The current study examined the influence of peer victimization on adolescent online trolling behavior,proposing that hostile attribution bias mediated this relationship and that trait mindfulness moderated both the direct and indirect effects.Methods:A total of 833 Chinese adolescents completed the measurements of peer victimization,hostile attribution bias,trait mindfulness,and online trolling.Moderated mediation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between these variables.Results:After controlling for gender and residential address,the study found a significant positive correlation between peer victimization and online trolling,with hostile attribution bias serving as a mediator.In addition,trait mindfulness moderated the direct relationship between peer victimization and online trolling.Specifically,the effect of peer victimization on online trolling was attenuated when adolescents had high levels of trait mindfulness.The results of the study emphasized the joint role of peer and personal factors in adolescents’online trolling behavior and provide certain strategies for intervening in adolescents’online trolling behavior.Conclusion:The results of the study suggest that strategies focusing on peer support and mindfulness training can have a positive impact on reducing online trolling behavior,promoting adolescents’mental health,and their long-term development.

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury:A Systematic Review

Mindfulness-based interventions(MBIs)are emerging non-pharmacological treatments for mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI).In this systematic review,the authors aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of MBIs to provide recommendations for treating patients with mTBI.We searched of the English literature on MBIs for patients with mTBI as of 01 September,2023,using the PubMed,Web of Science,PsycINFO,and Scopus databases.One author performed data extraction and quality scoring of the included literature according to the proposed protocol,and another conducted the review.The review was not registered.A total of 11 studies met the final inclusion criteria,5 of which involved military personnel(veterans).MBIs covered in this review include goal-oriented attention self-regulation(GOALS),mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR),acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT),and so on.Research shows that MBSR mainly reduces mental fatigue symptoms in mTBI patients,and GOALS tend to improve their cognitive function.The effect of MBIs on psychological symptoms needs further exploration.Other studies,such as mindfulness-based group therapy and intervention studies targeting mTBI military personnel,are relatively sparse.MBIs have specific effects on mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction in patients with mTBI.However,the effect on psychological distress and the sustained effectiveness across all symptoms still need further exploration.Considering the particularity of military personnel suffering from mTBI,researchers need to do more intervention studies targeting mTBI military personnel.Therefore,the design of future MBIs trials for mTBI patients’needs to take into account all the factors,such as different populations and severity of traumatic brain injury,to verify the effectiveness of MBIs in alleviating mTBI symptoms and explore the mechanism of intervention.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the intervention of psychiatric disorders: A review

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy(MBCT)is frequently used for psychiatric disorders.Despite MBCT’s considerable potential for improving psychological health for patients,there is little empirical evidence to support its practical application in Chinese.This review will define meditation and mindfulness,provide an overview of the development of MBCT,identify the evidence for the effectiveness of MBCT,and offer recommendations to medical personnels on how to provide support for patients receiving mindfulness intervention.

Study on the Effect of Self-Help Mindfulness Therapy on Rumination in Patients with Depression

Objective:To evaluate the nursing effect of self-help mindfulness therapy for patients with depression.Methods:120 cases of depression patients admitted to the Department of Psychosomatic Disorders of our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected.After being grouped by the random draw method,60 cases in the observation group adopted self-help mindfulness therapy and 60 cases in the control group adopted conventional nursing care,the nursing effects were subsequently compared.Results:Before nursing,there was no difference in the comparison of clinical symptom scores,rumination scores,positive psychological scores,and self-esteem scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After nursing,the clinical symptom scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group;the rumination scores were lower than those of the control group;the positive psychological scores were higher than those of the control group;and the self-esteem scores were higher than those of the control group,and all of them were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Self-help mindfulness therapy can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with depression and their rumination,and enhance their positive psychological state and self-esteem level,which has high nursing advantages.

Examining the Interplay between Trait Mindfulness and Thriving at Work among Teachers in Western China:The Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy

This study explores the nuanced relationship between trait mindfulness and thriving at work among educators in Western China,emphasizing the mediating role of general self-efficacy.Employing a sample of 378 primary and secondary school teachers,this research utilizes the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire(FFMQ),Thriving at Work Scale(TWS),and the General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES)to conduct a thorough investigation.The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between trait mindfulness and thriving at work,between trait mindfulness and general self-efficacy,and between general self-efficacy and thriving at work.Additionally,trait mindfulness was found to have a positive predictive effect on both thriving at work and general self-efficacy,with general self-efficacy also showing a positive predictive effect on thriving at work.Importantly,general self-efficacy was identified as playing a partial mediating role in the relationship between trait mindfulness and thriving at work.These results underscore the importance of cultivating mindfulness and self-efficacy among teachers to enhance their enthusiasm for work,suggesting potential pathways for professional development and well-being in the educational sector.

Effect of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Training on Sleep Quality and Mindfulness Cognitive Level of College Students

Objective:To study the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive training on sleep quality and mindfulness cognitive level of college students who score below the critical value of sleep disorders.Methods:The subjects were freshmen of a university in Shanghai who had scored below the critical value of sleep disorders.They were divided into the control group and experimental group by a random number table method,with 35 students in each group.No intervention was provided in the control group,and the mindfulness-based cognitive training(1 hour per day,5 days per week for 8 consecutive weeks)was performed in the intervention group.Eight weeks later,the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire(FFMQ)scores were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention for changes in the sleep quality and mindfulness cognitive level.Results:The sleep quality and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved,the sleep latency was shortened,the sleep duration was prolonged(P<0.05),and the mindfulness level of the subjects was significantly improved(P<0.05)in the intervention group compared with the control group.Conclusion:Mindfulness-based cognitive training can significantly improve the sleep quality of college students who scored below the critical value of sleep disorders.Furthermore,its psychological mechanism may be associated with the improvement of the mindfulness level of college students.

Assessing acceptance in mindfulness with direct-worded items:The development and initial validation of the Athlete Mindfulness Questionnaire

Purpose:The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate a sport-specific mindfulness measure,the Athlete Mindfulness Questionnaire(AMQ),through 5 related studies using 4 separate samples of Chinese athletes.The AMQ is a 3-factor measure designed to assess mindfulness that reflects present-moment attention,awareness,and acceptance in a sport context.Methods:In Study 1,an initial pool of items was generated based on previous literature,existing mindfulness scales,as well as interviews with and feedback from the athletes,coaches,and mindfulness experts.Initial support for the 3-factor structure of the AMQ was established via exploratory factor analysis in Study 2,and cross-validated through confirmatory factor analysis in Studies 3 and 4.In Study 5,a modified 3-factor AMQ with direct-worded acceptance items was examined in a fourth independent sample.Results:Convergent and concurrent validities of the acceptance subscale failed to be established in Studies 3 and 4 which may be due to the inattention and confusion of the athletes whilst interpreting the reverse-worded items.A modified 16-item AMQ in Study 5 displayed satisfactory model fit and acceptable internal consistencies.Most importantly,convergent and concurrent validities of the 16-item AMQ were supported.The3 subscales showed significant positive associations with mindfulness,flow,well-being,and positive affect and significant negative associations with experiential avoidance,burnout,and negative affect.Conclusion:The AMQ is a psychometrically sound measure of mindfulness in a sport context.The importance of using direct-worded acceptance items is discussed.

Neural mechanisms of mindfulness and meditation: Evidence from neuroimaging studies

Mindfulness is the dispassionate,moment-by-moment awareness of sensations,emotions and thoughts.Mindfulness-based interventions are being increasingly used for stress,psychological well being,coping with chronic illness as well as adjunctive treatments for psychiatric disorders.However,the neural mechanisms associated with mindfulness have not been well characterized.Recent functional and structural neuroimaging studies are beginning to provide insights into neural processes associated with the practice of mindfulness.A review of this literature revealed compelling evidence that mindfulness impacts the function of the medial cortex and associated default mode network as well as insula and amygdala.Additionally,mindfulness practice appears to effect lateral frontal regions and basal ganglia,at least in some cases.Structural imaging studies are consistent with these findings and also indicate changes in the hippocampus.While many questions remain unanswered,the current literature provides evidence of brain regions and networks relevant for understanding neural processes associated with mindfulness.

Does mindfulness meditation improve attention in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) manifests by high levels of inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. ADHD starts in childhood and results in impairments that continue into adulthood. While hyperactivity declines over time, inattention and executive function difficulties persist, leading to functional deficits. Adolescents and adults with ADHD have pervasive impairment in interpersonal and family relationships. They may develop addiction, delinquent behavior and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, persistent residual symptoms are common, highlighting the need for novel treatment strategies. Mindfulness training, derived from Eastern meditation practices, may improve self-regulation of attention. It may also be a useful strategy to augment standard ADHD treatments and may be used as a potential tool to reduce impairments in patients with residual symptoms of ADHD. Clinically, this would manifest by an increased ability to suppress task-unrelated thoughts and distractions resulting in improved attention, completion of tasks and potential improvement in occupational and social function.

Effects of mindfulness meditation on trait mindfulness,perceived stress,emotion regulation,and quality of life in hemodialysis patients:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:This study aimed to examine the effects of mindfulness meditation on trait mindfulness,perceived stress,emotion regulation,and quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.Methods:An experimental study with repeated measures design was conducted among a sample of 74 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis between January and May 2021 in the dialysis center at Jahra hospital,Kuwait.The patients were randomly assigned to the experimental(n?37)and control groups(n?37).The experimental group participated in 30-min mindfulness meditation sessions(three sessions a week for five weeks)held during their hemodialysis sessions;the participants in the control group were instructed to sit with their eyes closed and relaxed for 30 min three times a week for five weeks during hemodialysis sessions.The dependent variables of both groups were measured at baseline(T0),middle of intervention(T1),and end of intervention(T2)using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale(MAAS),Perceived Stress Scale(PSS),Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(ERQ),and Kidney Disease Quality of Life(KDQOL-36)questionnaire.The study was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov(Identifier:NCT05176730).Results:The repeated measures ANOVA(within-subject)results for the experimental group showed that mindfulness meditation had significantly decreased perceived stress by the end of the intervention.Also,mindfulness meditation improved mindfulness,emotion regulation,and kidney disease-related quality of life in the experimental group,and this improvement occurred significantly at both T1 and T2.The repeated measures ANOVA(within and between-subject)results showed that the experimental group,as compared to the control group,had lower perceived stress,higher trait mindfulness,higher emotional regulation,and higher kidney disease-related quality of life over time.Conclusions:The positive findings of this study offer health policy-makers and hospital administrators a promising tool to use with patients undergoing hemodialysis as a way to manage stress and improve quality of life.However,this study should be replicated in multiple settings with follow-up assessments.

Effectiveness of mindfulness based cognitive therapy on weight loss, improvement of hypertension and attentional bias to eating cues in overweight people

Objectives:Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity are dramatically ever-increasing across the world.Therefore,this study was to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy(MBCT)on weight loss,hypertension,and attentional bias towards food cues in a group of women affected with this condition.Methods:A total of 45 participants were selected out of women referring to the Nutrition and Diet Therapy Clinic affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Iran,and then randomized into three groups of 15.The first experimental group was subjected to an energy-restricted diet therapy together with MBCT during 8 sessions,the second group took the diet therapy alone,and the third group received no intervention.Body mass index(BMI),hypertension,and attentional bias towards food cues were correspondingly evaluated before,at the end,and four weeks after the completion of the interventions.Results:The results of this study revealed that MBCT,along with diet therapy,had been significantly more effective in weight loss,decrease in BMI,lower systolic blood pressure(SBP),and attentional bias towards food cues compared with the diet therapy alone(P≤0.01).MBCT had no significant impact on the decline in diastolic blood pressure(DBP)in participants in the follow-up phase.Conclusion:This study demonstrated that MBCT along with the conventional diet therapy was more effective in weight loss,decrease in BMI,hypertension control,as well as attentional bias towards food cues than the diet therapy alone.

Are mindfulness and self-efficacy related to presenteeism among primary medical staff: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: In ensuring public welfare with primary medical and health services,the primary medical staff faces new tasks.Increasing workload,and therefore degrees of stress and burnout,can influence job satisfaction and lead to presenteeism,which is defined as the appearance to be on the job but not actually working.The purpose of this study is to investigate the current worling situation and the relationship between presenteeism and mindfulness of primary medical staff and determine the mediating effect of self-efficacy on this relationship.Method: A cross-sectional survey was performed with 580 primary medical staff from 9 hospitals in Shaanxi province,northwest China.Presenteeism,mindfulness,and self-efficacy were measured by using a general information questionnaire,the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire,the General Self-Efficacy Scale,and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale.Mediating effect was analyzed by a series of hierarchical multiple regressions.Results: A high level of presenteeism was found among 47.4% of the study participants.Presenteeism was negatively correlated with mindfulness(r--0.409,P < 0.001) and self-efficacy(r--0.678,P < 0.001).A positive correlation was found between mindfulness and self-efficacy(r-0.584,P< 0.001).When controlling for self-efficacy (β =-0.018,P> 0.05),the association was insignificant between presenteeism and mindfulness.Conclusion: The results identified the effect of mindfulness on presenteeism of primary medical staff is realized through self-efficacy,which also suggested to enhance self-efficacy on center location when developing management strategies for mental health education or training among primary medical staff.

Benefits of Mindfulness Training on the Mental Health of Women During Pregnancy and Early Motherhood:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention on depression,anxiety,fear of childbirth(FOC),and life satisfaction of pregnant women in China.Methods Women experiencing first-time pregnancy(n=104)were randomly allocated to the intervention group or a parallel active control group.We collected data at baseline(T0),postintervention(T1),3 days after delivery(T2),and 42 days after delivery(T3).The participants completed questionnaires for the assessment of the levels of depression,anxiety,FOC,life satisfaction,and mindfulness.Differences between the two groups and changes within the same group were analyzed at four time points using repeated-measures analysis of variance.Results Compared with the active control group,the intervention group reported lower depression levels at T2(P=0.038)and T3(P=0.013);reduced anxiety at T1(P=0.001)and T2(P=0.003);reduced FOC at T1(P<0.001)and T2(P=0.04);increased life satisfaction at T1(P<0.001)and T3(P=0.015);and increased mindfulness at T1(P=0.01)and T2(P=0.006).Conclusion The mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention effectively increased life satisfaction and reduced perinatal depression,anxiety,and FOC.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapies on people living with HIV:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To assess the effects of mindfulness-based therapies(MBTs)on the outcomes of people living with HIV.Methods:During 2014,we searched the PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and CBM databases to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled studies which compared participants receiving mindfulness-based therapies(MBTs),including mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR)and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy(MBCT),with participants in control groups.The psychological,biochemical,clinical,and behavioral outcomes of the study participants were analyzed.Two separate reviewers independently performed the study selection,data extraction,and quality assessment tasks,and a meta-analysis of selected studies was performed using RevMan software.Results:Seven articles describing results obtained with a total of 620 HIV-infected individuals enrolled in six randomized trials and one quasi-experimental trial were included in the final meta-analysis.The overall methodological quality of the studies was moderate,as most study criteria were unclear and subject to a high risk of bias.Patients receiving MBT experienced significantly decreased feelings of stress after 8 weeks(p=0.03)of MBT,and decreased feelings of depression after both 8 weeks(p=0.04)and 6 months(p=0.02).Additionally,some patients receiving MBSR training or MBCT showed improved CD4^(+)counts at 8 weeks and 6 months,respectively.Conclusion:While MBT produced psychological benefits in HIV infected patients,any improvements in CD4^(+)counts were not robust.Additional studies with longer term follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are required to ascertain the effectiveness of such interventions.

Effects of mindfulness-based psychological care on mood and sleep of leukemia patients in chemotherapy

Purpose:The aim of this research was to explore the benefits of mindfulness-based psychological care(MBPC)and assess whether the intervention would be beneficial in reducing insomnia and emotional symptoms of leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods:A randomized control design study was applied in two hematology departments in a hospital in Zhengzhou.Patients in the experimental group received mindfulness-based psychological care(MBPC),and those in the control group received conventional care.Anxiety,depression,and sleeping problems were measured using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,Self-Rating Depression Scale,and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.Results:Statistically significant differences were observed among anxiety,depression,and sleeping problems between the two groups in the post-test(P<0.05).A significant decrease in anxiety and depression and an improvement in sleep were observed between pre-and post-interventions(P<0.05)in the experimental group.Conclusions:MBPC significantly improved sleep quality and mood of the experimental group.It is an effective complementary therapy for leukemia treatment that is inexpensive,noninvasive,and associated with relaxation and pain reduction.