Positive Health Online

Abstract

NYKLICEK and COLLEAGUES,  Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic disease (CoRPS), Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University studied the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on cardiovascular and cortisol activity during acute stress.

Background

Methodology

Eighty-eight healthy community-dwelling individuals reporting elevated stress levels were randomly assigned to the MBSR protocol or a waitlist control group. Before and after the intervention period they participated in a laboratory stress protocol consisting of mental arithmetic and speech tasks. Laboratory measurements included continuous cardiovascular parameters (heart period, heart rate variability, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP]), and salivary cortisol.

Results

Compared to the control group and controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and beta-blockers, the MBSR group showed larger pre- to postintervention decreases in overall SBP (F(1, 58) = 4.99, p = .029, partial 2 = .08) and DBP (F(1, 58) = 11.09, p = .002, partial 2 = .16). In addition, the MBSR group exhibited smaller SBP and DBP stress-related changes from pre- to postintervention (F(2, 116) = 4.89, p = .012, partial 2 = .08; F(2, 116) = 6.07, p = .007, partial 2 = .10, respectively). No effects were obtained on other physiological measures.

Conclusion

MBSR may help reducing blood pressure levels and blood pressure reactivity to stress.

References

Nyklicek I, Mommersteeg PM, Van Beugen S, Ramakers C and Van Boxtel GJ. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and physiological activity during acute stress: a randomized controlled trial. Comment in: Int J Group Psychother. 2014 Jan;64(1):115-21; PMID: 24320579.  Health Psychology.  32(10):1110-3. Oct 2013.