@article{20.500.12766/463,
year = {2023},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12766/463},
abstract = {Background and objectives: Although the benefits of Meditation-Based Programs are well documented, the
mechanisms underlying these benefits have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined whether: (1)
formal training in mindfulness and compassion meditation modifies the distribution of attentional resources
towards emotional information; and (2) whether changes in attentional processing of emotional information
after the meditation programs mediate the improvements in psychological distress, emotion regulation, and wellbeing.
Methods: A sample of 103 participants enrolled in the study: 36 in the mindfulness program (MBSR), 30 in the
compassion program (CCT), and 37 in the no-intervention comparison group (CG). The assessment before and
after the programs included the completion of an emotional Attentional Blink task (AB) together with self-report
measures of psychological distress, emotion regulation, and well-being.
Results: MBSR and CCT reduced similarly the AB deficit, whereas no changes occurred in the CG. This AB
reduction was found for the different emotional and non-emotional stimuli (i.e., negative, positive, and neutral),
showing a significant disengagement from first-target emotions and significant accessibility of second-target
emotions to consciousness. The effects of both meditation programs on the psychological measures were
mediated by changes in the AB and emotion regulation skills.
Limitations: Due to our naturalistic design in a real-world community setting, random assignment of participants
was not feasible.
Conclusions: Meditation may promote more flexible and balanced attention to emotional information, which may
be a key transdiagnostic mechanism underlying its benefits on emotional distress and well-being.},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {How do mindfulness and compassion programs improve mental health and well-being? The role of attentional processing of emotional information},
doi = {10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101895},
journal = {Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry},
keywords = {Mindfulness},
keywords = {Compassion},
keywords = {Attentional blink},
keywords = {Distress},
keywords = {Well-being},
volume = {81},
author = {Roca Morales, Pablo and Vázquez, Carmelo and Díez, Gustavo and McNally, Richard J.},
}