Abstract
Background: There is evidence that various meditation practices reduce distress, but little is known about the mechanisms of frequently repeating a mantram-a spiritual word or phrase-on distress reduction. Mantram repetition is the portable practice of focusing attention frequently on a mantram throughout the day without a specific time, place, or posture. Purpose: We examined the hypothesis of whether increases in positive reappraisal coping or distancing coping mediated the sustained decreases in anger found following a group-based mantram intervention that was designed to train attention and promote awareness of internal experiences. Method: A secondary analysis was performed on data collected from a randomized controlled trial that compared a group-based mantram intervention (n∈=∈46) to an attention-matched control (n∈=∈47) in a community sample of human immunodeficiency virus-positive adults. Positive reappraisal and distancing coping were explored as potential mediators of anger reduction. Results: Participants in the mantram intervention reported significant increases in positive reappraisal coping over the 5-week intervention period, whereas the control group reported decreases. Increases in positive reappraisal coping during the 5-week intervention period appear to mediate the effect of mantram on decreased anger at 22-week follow-up. Conclusions: Findings suggest that a group-based mantram intervention may reduce anger by enhancing positive reappraisal coping.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 74-80 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | International journal of behavioral medicine |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acceptance-based responding
- Anger
- Cognitive coping
- HIV
- Intervention
- Mantra
- Meditation
- Meta-cognition
- Spirituality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology