What is it about?
This research investigated mechanisms by which mindfulness training can reduce anxiety and depression. This was done in relation to the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model, which was augmented to include subtypes of rumination and mind wandering. Results indicate that mindfulness can influence people's mistaken beliefs about their own thinking, which shifts their relationships with content of rumination, mind wandering and worry, and this flows on to reduce anxiety and depression. Daily practice was found to be more effective, with a potentially protective function. The paper found reason to posit dereification as a more fundamental cause of symptom-reduction effects of mindfulness training. Also discussed is the likelihood of rumination and mind wandering subtypes as continuous phenomena mediated by dereification rather their current categorical categorisation.
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Why is it important?
Research into mindfulness's benefits on mental health has outpaced our understanding of why it works. Without understanding these mechanisms, it is difficult to develop or refine mindfulness training to make it more effective. It may also help explain why mindfulness can cause harm. Understaning these mechanisms may also shed light on underlying causes of mental distress.
Perspectives
I hope this research starts is part of a more subtle conversation around mental health. The perspective of interrupting known pathways to symptoms, and changing our relationship with thoughts and memories rather than their content is an important nuance I believe has great potential in the therapeutic space. This overlaps with contemplative theories of mind in exciting ways, and I am excited to see if those theories stand up to scientific rigour.
Dr Corey Jackson
University of the Sunshine Coast
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mechanics of Mindfulness: Investigating Metacognitive Beliefs as a Pathway of Effect on Anxiety and Depression, European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education, June 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe15060109.
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