Effects of a Mindful Rational Living Intervention on the Experience of Destructive Emotions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the effects of a 90-day mindful rational living (MRL) program on the experience of destructive emotions—anger, anxiety, depression, guilt—among a normal population in a pilot trial. The MRL program combines mindfulness meditation techniques with rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) strategies. Participants were 17 adults who completed the MRL program. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, which included scales measuring anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, rumination, shame, and subjective happiness. As hypothesized, participants showed significant decreases in anger, rumination, anxiety, depression, and shame after participating in the MRL program. There were no significant increases in subjective happiness. Findings from this pilot study provide preliminary support for the potential utility of interventions that combine mindfulness meditation with REBT strategies and can be used as the basis of future studies.

Daily change patterns in mindfulness and psychological health: A pilot intervention

“…In summary, mindfulness practice may lead to happiness through multiple mechanisms distinct from the effects that the SM condition can create. Exploration of these potential mechanisms is especially important because some studies find that MIs do not increase happiness (e.g., Chenneville, Machacek, Little, Aguilar, & De Nadai, 2017) while other studies find that they do (e.g., O'Leary & Dockray, 2015), suggesting that different mechanisms might have been in place that facilitated happiness.…”

Can Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Mindfulness be Integrated Effectively within High Performance Settings?

“…In sum, REBT and mindfulness-based approaches have evolved similarly in that both are now being applied within high performance settings having been originally developed for the clinical treatment of psychological disorders. To date however, despite rare exceptions (e.g., Chenneville & St John Walsh, 2016 ; Chenneville et al, 2017 ), there is a paucity of literature on ‘pure’ REBT (to distinguish between Ellis’ REBT and Beck’s CT) and mindfulness having been actively integrated within clinical or indeed high-performance settings.…”

Does Rumination Mediate the Unique Effects of Shame and Guilt on Procrastination?

“…More recently, evidence shows that training in mindfulness decreases both shame and rumination (Goffnett et al, 2020 ; Proeve et al, 2018 ; Shapiro et al, 2008 ). In fact, integrating mindfulness with REBT leads to decreases in shame (Chenneville et al, 2017 ). In addition, rumination-focused cognitive–behavioral therapy effectively decreases rumination (Jacobs et al, 2016 ).…”