(PS8-D91) From Meaning to Wellbeing: Testing Mindfulness-to-meaning Theory’s Mindful Reappraisal Hypothesis Among Chronic Worriers

Mindfulness-to-meaning theory offers an explanation for how mindfulness promotes improvements in mental health with an emphasis on the cultivation of positive mental states, as opposed to an exclusive focus on the reduction of negative psychological symptoms. Mindfulness-to-meaning theory proposes that the practice of decentering, or gaining psychological distance from stressors, initiates an upward spiral of positive emotion regulation leading to eudaimonic wellbeing. A key hypothesis of mindfulness-to-meaning theory is the mindful reappraisal hypothesis, which predicts that positive cognitive reappraisal is an important explanatory mechanism of the upward spiral model. Therefore, we aimed to test this hypothesis in a sample of individuals with existing difficulties with maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation. Specifically, we hypothesized that positive reappraisal would mediate the relationship between decentering and eudaimonic wellbeing in chronic worriers.

Adults (N = 48) with clinically elevated worry symptoms completed the following measures at baseline as part of an ongoing intervention study: trait decentering (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15; nonreactivity subscale), positive reappraisal as a typical cognitive response to stressors (Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; positive reappraisal subscale), and eudaimonic wellbeing (Mental Health Continuum-SF; psychological wellbeing subscale). We conducted mediation analyses using linear regression and bootstrapping to estimate indirect effects. First, we observed a positive, albeit marginal, total effect of decentering on eudaimonic wellbeing (c: β = .27, p = .063). Second, decentering predicted greater positive reappraisal (a: β = .34, p = .016). Third, while accounting for the influence of decentering, positive reappraisal predicted greater eudaimonic wellbeing (b: β = .38, p = .010). Fourth, In the presence of positive reappraisal, the total effect between decentering and eudaimonic wellbeing was reduced to a non-significant direct effect (c’: β = .14, p = .329). Additionally, the indirect effect of positive reappraisal was significant (ab: β = .13, p = .028).

These findings support mindfulness-to-meaning theory’s mindful reappraisal hypothesis, such that positive reappraisal mediated the relationship between decentering and eudaimonic wellbeing. Notably, these results were observed even among chronic worriers. Therefore, as proposed by the upward spiral model, chronic worriers may be able to use decentering to gain psychological distance from stressful life events. This, in turn, may interrupt the maladaptive habit of worrying about possible negative outcomes. Instead, a chronic worrier may be better able to notice the positive aspects of stressful life events, thereby facilitating positive reappraisal. Reappraising the stressor in a positive light, for example, as a challenging yet meaningful experience, in turn, may facilitate the cultivation of eudaimonic wellbeing. These findings have valuable clinical implications, suggesting that mindfulness practices may still be helpful to promote positive mental health even in the presence of negative psychological symptoms and maladaptive coping habits.