Practice Is Protective: Mindfulness Training Promotes Cognitive Resilience in High-Stress Cohorts

Jha, Amishi P.; Morrison, Alexandra B.; Parker, Suzanne C.; Stanley, Elizabeth A.

doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0465-9

Cited by 129 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 69 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

101

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…One explanation for these findings is that MT strengthens maintenance processes and reduces susceptibility to specific forms of task-unrelated distraction, such as mind wandering. Indeed, prior studies have reported that MT reduces self-reported mind wandering (Brewer et al 2011;Jha et al 2016;Mrazek et al 2013). In addition, a sister study to the current project found that M8T more so than M8D protected against performance lapses often associated with mind wandering .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

“…The key finding was that training-focused short-form MT promoted greater cognitive resilience of attention in predeployment servicemembers relative to the didactic-focused program. These results can be interpreted to suggest that similar to the amount of engagement in homework exercises (see Jha et al , 2016, an inclass focus on mindfulness training elements (e.g., MT exercises, discussion) is a strong contributor to the benefits of MT to cognitive control processes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 77%

“…In military servicemembers, cognitive performance across a variety of domains, including WM, degrades over the course of a combat deployment (Vasterling et al 2006) and over the course of military field training, whether the training interval is relatively short (e.g., 5 days: Lieberman et al 2002aLieberman et al , 2005Morgan et al 2006) or long (8 weeks: Jha et al , 2015Jha et al , 2016. Degraded WM performance may signal risk and vulnerabilities for intrusive thoughts, poor mood, and psychological disorders such as PTSD (see Brewin and Smart 2005; for discussion).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One emerging area of research involves offering mindfulness training (MT) as a form of cognitive resilience training by which to bolster cognitive control processes such as WM and attention (see Jha et al , 2015Jha et al , 2016Leonard et al 2013;Morrison et al 2014), which can be compromised due to high demand and stress (e.g., Arnsten 2009;Hofmann et al 2008Hofmann et al , 2012Oei et al 2006;Qin et al 2009). Mindfulness is described as Ba mental mode characterized by attention to present moment experience without judgment, elaboration, or emotional reactivity^ (Jha et al 2010, p. 54; see also Kabat-Zinn 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Short-Form Mindfulness Training Protects Against Working Memory Degradation over High-Demand Intervals

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Periods of persistent and intensive demands may compromise working memory (WM) and increase susceptibility to distraction. We investigated if mindfulness training (MT) may mitigate these deleterious effects and promote cognitive resilience in military cohorts enduring a high-demand interval of military training. To better understand which aspects of MT programs are most beneficial, three military cohorts were examined. Two groups received 8-h variants of an MT course, Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT)®, with one group emphasizing in-class training exercises (M8T, n = 40) and the other emphasizing didactic content (M8D, n = 40). A third group received no training (NTC, n = 46). Performance on a delayed-recognition WM task that varied mnemonic load (1 vs. 2 items) and delayspanning valenced distraction (negative vs. neutral images) was measured before (T1) and after (T2) an 8-week interval. Overall, task accuracy (% correct) was greater on low-vs. high-load trials, as well as trials with neutral vs. negative distraction. Task accuracy did not change over time in a civilian cohort (N = 22). Yet, it declined from T1 to T2 in the military cohorts, with the greatest degradation in NTC, followed by M8D, and near stable performance from T1 to T2 in M8T. This time by group effect significantly varied with load, but not with distracter valence. While NTC's performance degraded over time for both low-and high-load trials, M8D's performance degraded only for high load, and M8T did not show performance degradation for either load condition. These results suggest that MT may protect against WM degradation over high-demand intervals, with training-focused MT programs offering the greatest benefits for maintaining performance in high-load conditions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

mentioning

confidence: 77%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Short-Form Mindfulness Training Protects Against Working Memory Degradation over High-Demand Intervals

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Mindfulness has been reported to be a beneficial strategy in overcoming anxiety and depression, and for improving relationships (Khoury et al 2013). Other studies have reported the beneficial effects of mindfulness techniques for coping with stress with US military service personnel (Jha et al 2017), and emergency room nurses (Westphal et al 2015).…”

Section: Theme 4: Moderatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Interview Study of the Experiences of Firefighters in Regard to Psychological Contract and Stressors

Duran

Woodhams

Bishopp

2018

Employ Respons Rights J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As the first qualitative study of its kind, this study explored firefighters' beliefs and experiences about the psychological contract between themselves as employees and their employer, workplace stress, stress-management strategies, and their wellbeing. Eleven interviews were conducted with active firefighters from multiple fire stations in the UK. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using framework analysis. Five superordinate themes were identified and labelled as 'Motives', 'Mutual obligations', 'Stressors and their effects', 'Moderators', and 'Retention factors', each of which contained lower level sub-themes. Psychological contract (PC) is a useful construct to measure firefighters' perceived obligations as their responses reflected multiple facets of PC theory. The current climate of austerity measures appears to be negatively impacting on firefighters in terms of reducing numbers and placing higher task demands on those remaining. Thus, making it very difficult for the UK Fire and Rescue Service (UKFRS) to meet the perceived obligations of their employees. The findings have implications for human resource departments within UKFRS trying to manage the impact of funding cuts and they highlight the potential value of the PC as a construct around which such issues can be explored.

show abstract

The relationship between self‐forgiveness and psychological wellbeing in prison inmates: The mediating role of mindfulness

Paleari

Danioni

Pelucchi

et al. 2022

Criminal Behav Ment Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Previous research with general population samples has consistently shown that forgiveness and mindfulness facilitate coping with distressing experiences and significantly promote mental health. No study, however, has examined their unique contribution to prisoners' psychological wellbeing nor has considered the different forms of self-forgiveness among prisoners. Aims: Our aim was to investigate the role of mindfulness in mediating any association between prisoners' self-forgiveness and psychological wellbeing and to test whether any such links are moderated by years spent in prison. In this study self-forgiveness was conceptualised as a multidimensional construct, including presence of genuine self-forgiveness, absence of pseudo self-forgiveness and/or absence of self-punitiveness. Methods: Participants were recruited from a prison in Northern Italy. Consenting men were asked to complete an anonymous self-report questionnaire with only a researcher present.Results: 104 male prisoners (mean age 46.63 years, SD 11.38) took part. Findings were that self-punitiveness was inversely related to well-being, with mindfulness mediating this relationship, this while controlling for the other

show abstract

Practice Is Protective: Mindfulness Training Promotes Cognitive Resilience in High-Stress Cohorts

Cited by 129 publications

References 69 publications

Short-Form Mindfulness Training Protects Against Working Memory Degradation over High-Demand Intervals

Short-Form Mindfulness Training Protects Against Working Memory Degradation over High-Demand Intervals

An Interview Study of the Experiences of Firefighters in Regard to Psychological Contract and Stressors

The relationship between self‐forgiveness and psychological wellbeing in prison inmates: The mediating role of mindfulness

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About