Current research suggests short-term Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions increase individuals' coping flexibility. 

Psychological Effects of Short-term Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Interventions: Increased Coping Flexibility

Coping flexibility is an individual's ability to cope in different ways, and change their method of coping (E.g. Reframing), towards various stimuli.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

New York University

Short-term Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions have multiple psychological effects including the following:
- Increased Coping Flexibility


Psychological Effects of Short-term Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Interventions

Coping refers to the conscious, deliberate, and purposeful regulation of emotions, especially in situations perceived as threatening or stressful.

Coping

Jones, D. R., Lehman, B. J., Noriega, A., & Dinnel, D. L. (2019). The effects of a short-term mindfulness meditation intervention on coping flexibility. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32(4), 347-361. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2019.1596672

The Effects of a Short-term Mindfulness Meditation Intervention on Coping Flexibility

- Accommodation
- Support-seeking
- Social Isolation
- Self-reliance
- Problem-solving
- Helplessness
- Escape
- Opposition
- Submission

Categorization of Loneliness Coping Strategies Among University Students

- Meaning-making coping model
- Emotion-focused coping
- Problem-focused coping 
- Transactional model of stress and coping 
- Dual process model of loss 


Coping Models/Strategies

- Preventive Coping: coping with events far in the future such as age related milestones or expected functional losses
- Proactive Coping: coping that focuses on reducing the impact of events likely to occur - they are temporally removed from the stressor
- Anticipatory Coping: problem solving based methods that happen farther along the chain of coping when an event is imminent 
- Post - Impact Coping: can either be short term or long term; problem focused coping to resolve immediate impacts and cognitive coping to equip an individual for residual effects 

Temporal Aspects of Coping 

Maladaptive coping includes attack self, attack other, withdrawal, and avoidance. Adaptive coping focuses on restoring relationships. 

Coping with Shame

- Having a negative, past-oriented approach to coping can cause a person to be stuck 
- A positive, future-oriented approach gives an individual hope and shows them there are opportunities in the future that will improve their quality of life
- This positive approach has been linked to increased psychosocial outcomes in psychological and social QOL, perceived well-being, life satisfaction, and negatively linked to depression and anxiety

Coping and Adversity

Researchers have agreed that there are unhealthy and healthy ways of managing stress.

Ways of Coping with Stress

Ultimately, it is the individual's response to the high risk situation that affects whether or not they will relapse. For example, a person who uses effective coping skills, such as leaving the situation or positive self talk, is less likely to relapse than someone who does not use effective coping skills. A person who has coped successfully with a high-risk situation will experience a greater sense of self-efficacy, thereby decreasing their chance of relapse in the future.

Coping Skills and Relapse

- Seeking Connection
- Avoidance
- Support-seeking
- Cognitive Strategies
- Meaning-focused
- Distraction

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