It's not what you think, it's how you relate to it: Dispositional mindfulness moderates the relationship between psychological distress and the cortisol awakening response

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Neuroticism predicts depressive symptoms six years later among people with a weaker tendency to label experiences, but not among those with a stronger tendency.

“For example, neuroticism predicts depressive symptoms six years later among individuals with lesser tendency to label experiences but not among those with greater tendency, suggesting that the ability to describe inner experiences may protect against long-term negative effects of neuroticism (Barnhofer et al., 2011).”

• cites Barnhofer et al., 2011 sourcePartly supported

  The Results report that neuroticism was significantly associated with later depressive symptoms below a threshold on the Describing scale, but not above it. However, the Results say the Describing interaction only approached significance after adjustment, and the Discussion cautions that the facet findings require great caution. The claim presents this tentative facet-specific result too firmly. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

A significant Accept × negative affect interaction showed that a 1-SD increase in negative affect was linked to a 4.15 nmol/L increase in the cortisol awakening response when Accept was low (p = .003), but no significant link when Accept was high (p = .92).

“For example, a significant interaction between Accept and negative affect was observed such that a 1-SD increase in negative affect was associated with a 4.15 nmol/L increase in the CAR when Accept was low (p = .003), but no significant association with the CAR was observed when Accept was high (p = .92).”

May combine two claims.

Of the eight interaction models, four were statistically significant, two were marginally significant, and two were non-significant.

“Of the eight interaction models, four were statistically significant, two were of marginal significance, and two were non-significant (see Table 2).”

May combine two claims.

In the four Accept models, interactions with negative affect and anxiety were statistically significant, while those with perceived stress and rumination were marginally significant (ps = .08 and .09).

“Specifically, in regards to the four models including Accept, the two interactions including negative affect and anxiety were statistically significant and those including perceived stress and rumination were of marginal significance (ps = .08 and .09, respectively).”

May combine two claims.

The links between psychological distress and the cortisol awakening response were qualified by interactions with dispositional mindfulness components, which explained significant variance in the CAR (13-27%) beyond distress indicators alone.

“However, these associations were qualified by interactions with components of dispositional mindfulness, which explained significant proportions of variance in the CAR (13-27%) beyond indicators of psychological distress alone.”

May combine two claims.

The models testing Describe interactions with rumination and anxiety were significant and showed a pattern similar to the Accept models.

“The models testing the interaction of Describe with rumination and anxiety were significant, showing a similar pattern to those including Accept (see Figure 1).”

May combine two claims.

The link between psychological distress and the cortisol awakening response was positive at lower Accept levels (1 SD below the mean) but not at higher levels (1 SD above the mean).

“The pattern of interaction was similar across models such that the association between psychological distress and the CAR was positively related at lower levels of Accept (1 SD below the mean) but not at higher levels (1 SD above the mean; see Figure 1).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Psychological distress was positively associated with the cortisol awakening response, as found in prior studies.

“As expected, psychological distress was positively associated with the CAR as found in prior studies.”

May combine two claims.

The potential buffering effect of mindfulness on the cortisol awakening response did not clearly generalize to stress appraisals, although the acceptance interaction was marginally significant.

“The potential buffering effect of mindfulnes on the CAR did not clearly generalize to stress appraisals, although the interaction with acceptance was marginally sigificant.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

All measures were collected at baseline before randomization.

“All measures were collected at baseline prior to randomization.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Participants reported taking the second morning sample within five minutes of the 30-minute target in 138 of 145 samples, or 95% of cases across the four collection days.

“In 95% of cases across the four days of saliva collection (138 out of 145 samples), participants reported taking the second morning sample within ± 5 minutes of the 30 minute guideline.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Variables were centered to prevent multicollinearity in the models.

“Variables were centered to avoid multi-collinearity in the models.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Greater cortisol awakening responses are linked to higher appraisals of general life and job stress.

“According to a meta-analysis, higher CARs are associated with increased appraisals of general life and job stress (Chida & Steptoe, 2009).”

• cites Chida & Steptoe, 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The cortisol assay's intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were under 9%.

“Intra and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 9%.”

May combine two claims.

Anxiety, rumination, and negative affect do not show a reliable link to the cortisol awakening response.

“However, negative affect, anxiety, and rumination are not reliably associated with the CAR (Chida & Steptoe, 2009; Zoccola &Dickerson, 2012).”

• cites Chida & Steptoe, 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Zoccola &Dickerson, 2012 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The morning cortisol rise after waking is steeper than the early-morning circadian cortisol increase, which indicates it captures processes specific to awakening.

“The CAR has a slope steeper than the circadian rise of cortisol concentrations in the early morning hours suggesting that the CAR reflects psychophysiological processes unique to awakening (Wilhelm et al., 2007).”

• cites Wilhelm et al., 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

These results are cross-sectional, so the causal direction among variables and whether genetic predispositions or environmental exposures account for the relations cannot be determined.

“Finally, these results are cross-sectional and we cannot be sure of the causal direction of the relation among variables or whether genetic predispositions or environmental exposures account for the relations.”

May combine two claims.

Mindful awareness of internal experiences may more likely reduce HPA reactivity when situations are ambiguous, trait negative affect or rumination is high, or during recovery from stressors.

“Mindful awareness of internal experiences may more likely reduce HPA reactivity when situations are ambiguous, trait levels of negative affect or rumination are high, or during recovery from stressors.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

Further consideration of dispositional mindfulness components as moderating variables may show for whom and in what circumstances negative psychological factors affect the cortisol awakening response and other stress reactivity measures.

“Further consideration of components of dispositional mindfulness as moderating variables may show for whom and in what circumstances negative psychological factors affect the CAR and other stress reactivity measures.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

May combine two claims.

Strong identification with or judgment of negative thoughts and emotions may increase or prolong HPA axis activation, but not if those thoughts and emotions are experienced with mindful awareness.

“Put another way, strong identification with or judgment of negative thoughts and emotions may increase or prolong HPA axis activation but not if those thoughts and emotions are experienced with mindful awareness.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

May combine two claims.

Labeling and accepting internal experiences may do less to buffer the impact of negative thoughts and feelings on physiological responses when objective stressors are present, because HPA reactivity to objective stressors may be adaptive.

“Accordingly, labeling and accepting internal experiences may do less to buffer the impact of negative thoughts and feelings on physiological responses in the presence of objective stressors, as HPA reactivity to objective stressors may be adaptive.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

May combine two claims.

This is the first study to report that dispositional mindfulness aspects-the tendency to describe and accept thoughts and emotions-are negatively related to the cortisol awakening response.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that aspects of dispositional mindfulness – the tendency to describe and accept thoughts and emotions – are negatively related to the CAR.”

May combine two claims.

These findings were observed in non-meditators, suggesting that natural variations in trait mindfulness may protect physical health.

“Of note, these findings were observed in non-meditators, suggesting natural variations in trait aspects of mindfulness may be protective of physical health.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Stress appraisals may more closely reflect the presence of objective stressors.

“Stress appraisals may more closely reflect the presence of objective stressors.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

If individuals can label distressing internal experiences or not judge themselves for having them, the impact of those experiences on HPA stress arousal may be attenuated.

“If individuals are able to label distressing internal experiences or not judge themselves for having them (presumably decreasing identification with them) the impact of those experiences on HPA stress arousal may be attenuated.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The cortisol awakening response is a valid indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.