The Effects of Three Minute Breathing Space Intervention on Positive and Negative Emotions

• Main Authors: Hsiu-Yu Lo, 羅綉語
• Other Authors: Sue-Hwang Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/23988694073938908519

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 心理學研究所 === 104 === Shame and guilty play important roles in the pathology of depression. In recent years, mindfulness based interventions have gradually been used as means of emotion or stress regulations to help individuals improve their life quality. Lots of research indicate that mindfulness based cognitive therapy has remarkable efficacy on preventing recurrence of depressive disorders; notwithstanding, the mechanisms of change have remained unclear. In this study the broaden-and-build theory was adopted as mechanism of change for the effects of emotion regulations. We hypothesized that, because the practice of the three-minute breathing space would induce the positive cognitive-emotion spiral, the induced shame feelings could therefore be alleviated after the practice, and positive emotions could be promoted. Furthermore, the practice could also interrupt the process of negative cognitive thoughts and depressive emotion subsequently. Effects of emotion regulation on other negative emotions related to depression, such as guilt and anxiety, were also investigated in this study. Positive emotions investigated were pride, happy, calm, and self-acceptance. We hypothesized that there would be different impacts of 3-minute breathing space on positive and negative emotions between the high and low shame proneness individuals. The participants consisted of 230 college or graduated students. An experiment with 2 (shame proneness: high/low) x 3 (emotion regulation intervention: three minute breathing space/muscle relaxation/calculation task) x 3 (the time points on which participants’ emotional state are measured: before and after the emotional induction task, and after the intervention of emotional regulation) mixed factorial design was conducted. The results revealed that there was a positive correlation between shame and depressive feelings; as compared to a nonsignificant correlation between guilt and depressive feelings. Furthermore, it showed that only the three-minute breathing space influenced the state of nervousness among the negative emotions, and the effect was similar to the muscle relaxation. It also revealed that the three-minute breathing space had greater impact on the positive emotions. Specifically, the 3-minute breathing space promoted the state of self-acceptance than muscle relaxation and counting task. Similarly, it also promoted significant state of pride than counting task, and to a nonsignificant trend superior to the muscle relaxation. Both the 3-minute breathing space and muscle relaxation could promote significant state of calm, indicating that their efficacy on calm was similar. The level of happy feelings decreased after the practice of the 3-minute breathing space was also noted. Based on the above, the conclusions included: (1) the efficacy of the three-minute breathing space on the self-conscious emotions (pride and self-acceptance) was better than the muscle relaxation, which might result from the instructions for self-awareness of the three-minute breathing space. Besides, the efficacy of the three-minute space on promoting calm and reducing happy feelings might result from the effect of decreasing the emotionality; (2) both the three-minute breathing space and muscle relaxation had efficacy on nervousness, which might result from the lower level of physical arousal induced by the instruction contents about physical feelings; (3) That the three-minute breathing space had no significant effects on the guilty, shame, and depression might due to the duration of the practice was too short to induce changes of negative feelings and cognitions. We suggest that longer period of practice must be taken into consideration when using the three-minute breathing space for the high shame tendency individuals in the clinical situation. Also, they could be reminded of awaring of the changes of their positive and negative emotions through mindful attitude during therapy sessions.