Abstract
Distressed (‘Type D’) personality, the combination of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), has been associated
with adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine if an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
program could reduce Type D personality characteristics. Distressed individuals from the Dutch general population (N = 146; mean age = 46.07; 69 % female) participated in a randomized trial comparing the mindfulness intervention with waitlist
control. Although change in Type D caseness did not differ between groups, the intervention group showed stronger reductions
for both NA (p < .001) and SI (p < .05) dimensions, even when change in state negative affect was statistically controlled. These effects were mediated by
change in self-reported mindfulness. In conclusion, MBSR may reduce characteristics of the distressed personality type, likely
through the mechanism of increased mindfulness.
with adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine if an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
program could reduce Type D personality characteristics. Distressed individuals from the Dutch general population (N = 146; mean age = 46.07; 69 % female) participated in a randomized trial comparing the mindfulness intervention with waitlist
control. Although change in Type D caseness did not differ between groups, the intervention group showed stronger reductions
for both NA (p < .001) and SI (p < .05) dimensions, even when change in state negative affect was statistically controlled. These effects were mediated by
change in self-reported mindfulness. In conclusion, MBSR may reduce characteristics of the distressed personality type, likely
through the mechanism of increased mindfulness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9431-3
- Authors
- Ivan Nyklíček, CoRPS, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic disease, Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Postbox 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Sylvia van Beugen, Department of Medical Psychology, St. Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Johan Denollet, CoRPS, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic disease, Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Postbox 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715