Implications for a mindfulness-enhanced positive affect induction: A brief commentary toward acute pain management

Abstract

Over the past decade research has increased on dynamics between mindfulness, positive affect, and pain. While there have been studies examining the direct use of positive psychology for pain management, few have examined the use of a specific mindfulness-enhanced positive affect induction (i.e. a singular brief technique engendering mindfulness and strong positive affect) toward acute pain and pain flare management. This topical commentary discusses the need for such a technique toward bolstered gold-standard interventions, related studies, and possible future directions for acute and post-surgical pain management. Future research is encouraged to build from prior research on loving-kindness meditation and examine novel, brief mindfulness-enhanced positive affect inductions for acute pain management.

Positive impacts of psychological pain treatments: Supplementary analyses of a randomized clinical trial.

“…Further research is needed to investigate specific mechanisms underlying the role that skill acquisition and practice may play in enhancing both positive and symptom-focused outcomes. Potential pathways to examine include the strengthening of psychosocial resources (Finlay et al, 2018; López-Martínez et al, 2008), the induction of positive affect (Finan & Garland, 2015; Goerlitz et al, 2024), and the broaden-and-build effect of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 2004). In the same vein, it may also be fruitful to examine whether increases in positive illness perceptions and other positive psychology constructs are associated with improvements in other outcomes, such as substance use, that frequently co-occur with, or even worsen with, chronic pain (Wyse et al, 2021).…”