How effective are acceptance strategies? A meta-analytic review of experimental results

Kohl, Annika; Rief, Winfried; Glombiewski, Julia Anna

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.03.004

Cited by 107 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 55 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the Buddhist paradigm, monitoring (vipaśyanā) leads to sensory clarity and insight (prajñā), whereas acceptance (i.e., equanimity, the ability to experience pleasure and pain without interference) reduces craving (rāga) and aversion (dvesha), the necessary causes (samuccaya) for suffering (duhkha) (Young, 2016b(Young, , 2016a. For basic researchers, these findings contribute to a growing understanding of acceptance as an emotion regulation mechanism (Kohl et al, 2012), an approach that has received less attention than other response-focused strategies (e.g., cognitive reappraisal). Likewise, among stress and coping researchers, this study sheds new light on the construct of acceptance; this intentional form of experiential acceptance stands in contrast to the form of acceptance that resembles passive resignation and is generally associated with poor outcomes in the health psychology literature (e.g., Reed et al, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…In contrast to avoiding, altering, or focusing narrowly on salient negative stimuli, acceptance is an attitude of receptivity and equanimity toward all momentary experiences that allows even stressful stimuli to arise and pass without reactivity. Self-reported acceptance skills are associated with lower physiological and neural stress reactivity (Paul et al, 2013;Shallcross et al, 2013), and emotional acceptance is an effective strategy for regulating negative affect (Kohl et al, 2012) that may dampen physiological reactivity to emotional stimuli (Dan-Glauser & Gross, 2015). To evaluate the importance of acceptance training as a stress reduction mechanism in mindfulness interventions, we report the results of the first three-arm randomized controlled dismantling trial that compares a full mindfulness training program (Monitor+Accept) to a mindfulness training program without acceptance instructions (Monitor Only) and an active placebo controlled program (Coping control).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial

Lindsay

Young

Smyth

et al. 2018

Psychoneuroendocrinology

176

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Mindfulness interventions, which train practitioners to monitor their present-moment experience with a lens of acceptance, are known to buffer stress reactivity. Little is known about the active mechanisms driving these effects. We theorize that acceptance is a critical emotion regulation mechanism underlying mindfulness stress reduction effects. Method:In this three-arm parallel trial, mindfulness components were dismantled into three structurally equivalent 15-lesson smartphone-based interventions: (1) training in both monitoring and acceptance (Monitor+Accept), (2) training in monitoring only (Monitor Only), or (3) active control training (Coping control). 153 stressed adults (mean age = 32 years; 67% female; 53% white, 21.5% black, 21.5% Asian, 4% other race) were randomly assigned to complete one of three interventions. After the intervention, cortisol, blood pressure, and subjective stress reactivity were assessed using a modified Trier Social Stress Test.Results: As predicted, Monitor+Accept training reduced cortisol and systolic blood pressure reactivity compared to Monitor Only and control trainings. Participants in all three conditions reported moderate levels of subjective stress. Conclusions:This study provides the first experimental evidence that brief smartphone mindfulness training can impact stress biology, and that acceptance training drives these effects. We discuss implications for basic and applied research in contemplative science, emotion regulation, stress and coping, health, and clinical interventions.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT02433431

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial

Lindsay

Young

Smyth

et al. 2018

Psychoneuroendocrinology

176

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although some studies have indicated that acceptance leads to decreases in negative emotions, relative to other experimental groups (Levitt, Brown, Orsillo, & Barlow, 2004; Wolgast et al, 2011), others have found no differences (Dan-Glauser & Gross, 2013; Dunn, Billotti, Murphy, & Dagleish, 2009). Indeed, a meta-analysis of laboratory studies of emotion regulation found that acceptance does not exert a reliable effect on negative emotions (Kohl, Rief, & Glombiewski, 2012). …”

Section: Acceptancementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive reappraisal and acceptance: Effects on emotion, physiology, and perceived cognitive costs.

Troy

Shallcross

Brunner

et al. 2018

Emotion

198

159

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two emotion regulation strategies—cognitive reappraisal and acceptance—are both associated with beneficial psychological health outcomes over time. However, it remains unclear whether these 2 strategies are associated with differential consequences for emotion, physiology, or perceived cognitive costs in the short-term. The present study used a within-subjects design to examine the effects of reappraisal (reframing one’s thoughts) and acceptance (accepting feelings without trying to control or judge them) on the subjective experience of negative emotions, positive emotions, and physiological responses during and following recovery from sad film clips shown in the laboratory. Participants also reported on perceived regulatory effort, difficulty, and success after deploying each emotion regulation strategy. In 2 samples of participants (N = 142), reappraisal (vs. acceptance) was associated with larger decreases in negative and larger increases in positive emotions, both during the film clips and recovery period. However, acceptance was perceived as less difficult to deploy than reappraisal, and was associated with a smaller dampening of skin conductance level (indicating more successful regulation) during the film clips in 1 sample. These results suggest that reappraisal and acceptance may exert differential short-term effects: Whereas reappraisal is more effective for changing subjective experiences in the short term, acceptance may be less difficult to deploy and be more effective at changing one’s physiological response. Thus, these 2 strategies may both be considered “effective” for different reasons.

show abstract

“…Une méta-analyse portant sur une trentaine d'études comparant l'efficacité de diverses stratégies de régulation émotionnelle telles que l'acceptation, la suppression, la distraction et la réévaluation cognitive, démontre que l'acceptation permet une plus grande tolérance aux émotions douloureuses comparativement à la distraction et à la suppression (Kohl, Rief et Glombiewski, 2012). Cependant, l'acceptation n'est pas supérieure à ces stratégies pour ce qui est de la diminution de l'intensité de la douleur et de la gestion des affects négatifs.…”

Section: Acceptation Versus éVitement Des Expériencesunclassified

Le modèle de la flexibilité psychologique : une approche nouvelle de la santé mentale

Dionne

Ngô

Blais

2014

smq

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d'auteur. L'utilisation des services d'Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d'utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne.https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit.Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l'Université de Montréal, l'Université Laval et l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. A descriptive literature review was undertaken to explore the data on the efficacy of ACT for the treatment of mental health problems. Psycinfo and Medline, as well as the Association for Contextual Science website were analyzed for relevant articles. The key search terms were: "Acceptance and Commitment therapy" or "ACT" or "acceptance" or "mindfulness" or "defusion." The reference lists of the articles retrieved were also analyzed. The articles that were not in English or French were excluded. Results: Data suggest that ACT is particularly effective for stress, anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse and various chronic medical conditions. The six processes of the model of psychological flexibility have been validated based on the results of correlational and meditational studies. More than seventy randomized clinical trials and a meta-analysis including 18 randomized control trials conclude that ACT is more effective than waiting list, placebo and treatment as usual control conditions. Conclusion: ACT is a promising and evidence-based approach in mental health for the treatment of anxiety and depression as well as for complex and chronic conditions. More research is needed to further validate its theoretical model and further refine our understanding of how ACT could be effective for the management of mental health illness and how it could enhance quality of life for people who suffer from these conditions. key words third wave, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), therapeutic efficacy, transdiagnostic treatment

show abstract

How effective are acceptance strategies? A meta-analytic review of experimental results

Cited by 107 publications

References 55 publications

Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial

Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial

Cognitive reappraisal and acceptance: Effects on emotion, physiology, and perceived cognitive costs.

Le modèle de la flexibilité psychologique : une approche nouvelle de la santé mentale

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About