Shift in Valence Bias Associated with Decrease in Trait Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

AI Summary

MBSR training shifted responses to emotionally ambiguous stimuli toward more positive interpretations.
Greater post-training positivity in valence bias correlated with larger reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.001).
Association persisted after controlling for increased self-reported mindfulness, implying valence bias shifts may underlie symptom improvements and merit randomised mechanistic studies.

AI Summary

Recently, a small, open-label trial showed that MBSR training was associated with a shift toward more positive responses to emotionally ambiguous signals (e.g., surprised expressions that convey either positive or negative meaning).

METHODS: Here, we test whether the MBSR-induced shift in responses to emotional ambiguity reported previously is accompanied by a reduction in self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms (n = 42).

RESULTS: In support of our hypothesis, we found that the degree to which individuals' post-training responses to emotional ambiguity became more positive was associated with the degree of reduction in post-training depression and anxiety symptoms (i.e., post-training symptoms controlling for pre-training symptoms; ps = 0.001).

Basic summary

Cognit Ther Res. 2024 Jun;48(3):444-450. doi: 10.1007/s10608-023-10437-x. Epub 2023 Sep 30.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a well-known method for reducing stress and negative affect. Recently, a small, open-label trial showed that MBSR training was associated with a shift toward more positive responses to emotionally ambiguous signals (e.g., surprised expressions that convey either positive or negative meaning).

METHODS: Here, we test whether the MBSR-induced shift in responses to emotional ambiguity reported previously is accompanied by a reduction in self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms (n = 42).

RESULTS: In support of our hypothesis, we found that the degree to which individuals’ post-training responses to emotional ambiguity became more positive was associated with the degree of reduction in post-training depression and anxiety symptoms (i.e., post-training symptoms controlling for pre-training symptoms; ps = 0.001). Importantly, the effect remains significant even when accounting for increases in self-reported mindfulness.

CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the results suggest that shifts in valence bias and reductions in internalizing symptoms track one another following MBSR, warranting future randomized, mechanistic investigations.

PMID:42416853 | PMC:PMC13341176 | DOI:10.1007/s10608-023-10437-x

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