Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on distressed (Type D) personality traits: a randomized controlled trial

• DOI: 10.1007/s10865-012-9431-3
• Publication Date: 2012-05-14T06:38:16Z
• Authors: Ivan Nyklíček; Sylvia van Beugen; Johan Denollet
• Keywords: Mindfulness-based stress reduction; Type D personality; Health psychology; Social inhibition; Affect

Distressed (‘Type D’) personality, the combination of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), has been associated with adverse health outcomes. The purpose this study was to examine if an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program could reduce Type D personality characteristics. individuals from Dutch general population (N = 146; mean age 46.07; 69 % female) participated in a randomized trial comparing mindfulness intervention waitlist control. Although change caseness did not differ between groups, group showed stronger reductions for both NA (p < .001) SI .05) dimensions, even when state affect statistically controlled. These effects were mediated by self-reported mindfulness. In conclusion, MBSR may characteristics distressed type, likely through mechanism increased