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Mindfulness, Emotion regulation and Subjective well-being: An

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 Indian Journal of Social Science Researches
Vol. 8 No. 1-2, March & Oct. 2011, pp. 159-167
ISSN 09749837

Mindfulness, Emotion regulation and Subjective well-being:

An Overview of Pathways to Positive Mental Health
Satchit Prasun Mandal*, Yogesh Kumar Arya** and Rakesh Pandey***

There is a general agreement among researchers that mindful meditation training enhances functional status,
physical and psychological well-being. Studies on mindfulness and well-being relationship seem to converge on
the fact that mindfulness is associated with different components of subjective well-being (SWB). The
mindfulness-well-being relationship though, has been well documented in the literature; the exact mechanism
underlying this relationship is not well understood so far. The present paper makes an attempt to review studies
dealing with the relationship of mindfulness with emotional regulation and well-being as well as those dealing
with relationship of emotion regulation with well-being in order to identify the probable mediating processes and
mechanism that may potentially explain the mindfulness and well-being relationship. Based on the reported
pattern of relationship among the said constructs it was theorized that emotion regulation may serve as a
potential mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and well-being. However, well-planned empirical
studies are needed to attest this theoretical speculation inasmuch as some studies points towards the possibility
that mindfulness may serve as a potential mediator in the relationship of emotion regulation and well-being.
Keywords: Mindfulness, subjective well-being, emotion regulation, positive affect

Human beings have been concerned about well- advocated the association between mindfulness
being, happiness, life satisfaction and positive and positive health/well-being since very long
emotional experiences from very initial days of past. Now the highly beneficial effects of
their existence. In recent years, issues related to mindfulness practices on human well-being have
well-being and happiness and their possible been confirmed in several empirical studies of
correlates have drawn considerable attention and both east and west (e.g., Brown & Ryan, 2003;
interest of researchers. Consequently, a plethora Ryan & Deci, 2000). It is theoretically well-known
of experimental and theoretical literatures on the that mindfulness is the attribute of consciousness,
different dimensions, mechanisms and correlates which promotes optimal health and well-being.
of health and well-being have been produced mindfulness is thought to play a big role in
(Diener, 1999; Hoorn, 2007). However, from making human being free from automatic
applied perspective there is a need to focus more thoughts, habits and unhealthy behaviors and
on those correlates which can be developed and thus it enhances self-regulated behavior which is
modified within an individual through practice related to enhancement of well-being (Ryan &
and/or training and effort. The construct of Deci, 2000). However, the mediating
mindfulness is of great interest in this regard, mechanisms that can effectively explain the
because oriental meditation practices particularly mindfulness-health/well-being relationship have
Buddhism provides methods of cultivating it, not yet been studied thoroughly.
which are now being adopted in the western The available literature on mindfulness and well-
research world also in order to promote health being relationship indicates that mindfulness may
and well-being. promote some self-regulatory emotional
Mindfulness as an eastern construct connotes mechanisms that in turn effectively enhance
non-judgmental and nonreactive acceptance of human health/well-being. As mindfulness has
emotional states. Eastern traditional knowledge been shown to promote non-judgmental
base and theoretico-religious understandings of it consciousness over emotional experiences, one

* Research Scholar, ** Assistant Professor, *** Professor (corresponding author), Department of Psychology
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Email: [email protected]
160 Mandal, Arya & Pandey

may argue that this conscious emotional control al., 2000). The promising findings from such
may serve as the pathway that links mindfulness- studies have led the researchers to focus their
human health/well-being relationship. In earlier attention on efficacy of mindfulness-based
studies this relationship has been discussed interventions using Mindfulness Based Stress
partially in relation to psychological defenses Reduction (MBSR) program in clinical population
(Freud, 1926), self-regulation (Mischel, Shoda & (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Consequently, a bulk of
Rodriruez, 1989), stress and coping (Lazarus, empirical researches has been produced since
1966) and attachment (Bowlby, 1969). Based on last two decades. Findings from such studies
such observations we speculated that emotion generally suggest that individuals with
regulation may be a potential link between psychological and physical symptoms are
mindfulness and health/well-being relationship. benefited from MBRS program (e.g., Baer, 2003;
To explore the viability of this speculated Bishop, 2002; Grossman et al., 2004). Other
pathway to positive development and well-being studies exploring the effects of mindfulness-based
we reviewed the existing literature dealing with stress reduction training on quality of life and
the relationship among mindfulness, emotion physical and psychological symptoms in a
regulation and well-being. The present review heterogeneous patient population also
aims to explore the relationship of mindfulness demonstrated that mindfulness meditation
with health/well-being through theoretical and training program enhanced functional status,
empirical recollection of earlier researches. It also well-being and reduced physical/psychological
aims to review the role of emotion regulation in distresses (e.g., Reibel, Greeson, Brainard, &
mediating the relationship of mindfulness with Rosenzweig, 2001). Some recent studies have
human health and well-being. Theoretical also demonstrated the effectiveness of
support for the idea that emotional control may mindfulness-based therapeutic programs in
play a mediating role in mindfulness-well-being alleviating the symptoms of behavioral disorders
relationship may be advanced if empirical such as anxiety (Roemer, Orsillo, & Salters-
evidences provide support for relationship Pedneault, 2008), substance abuse (Brown, Ryan,
between mindfulness and emotion regulation as & Creswell, 2007), eating disorders (Tapper et al.,
well as the relationship of these two constructs 2009).
with health/well-being. In view of this, while The effect of mindfulness-based treatment is not
reviewing the empirical studies we classified limited to alleviating physical symptoms only but
them in three sets. The first set of studies addresses it has also been shown to improve subjective
the relationship between mindfulness and well-being (SWB) of those individuals who
health/well-being, while second set of studies received a mindfulness-based treatment (e.g.,
explores mindfulness-emotion regulation Cherie & Dianne, 2010; Corey, Patricia, &
relationship. The third set of studies focuses on Rhonda, 2006; Ryan, 2003). Brown and Ryan
relationship between emotion regulation ability (2003) in an experience-sampling study observed
and health/well-being. that mindfulness induces self-regulatory
Mindfulness and Human Health/well-being behaviours and frequent experiences of positive
emotional states. Frequent experiences of
The ancient tradition of mindfulness meditation
positive emotions are indicators of greater
practice has been increasingly integrated in the
subjective well-being. Jacob, Jovic and
psycho-therapeutic practices and such trend is
Brinkerhoff (2004) conducted a survey research
evident from the beginning of the latter half of
on mindfulness, spirituality and subjective well-
twentieth century (Baer, 2003; Grossman,
being. They basically tried to find out whether
Niemann, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004; Teasdale et
 Mindfulness, emotion regulation and well-being 161

mindfulness practices lead to sustainable lifestyle may be linked with emotion regulation. For
practices and can explain the variances in instance, Bishop and associates (2004) described
subjective well-being. Their result showed that mindfulness as a way of maintaining attention on
mindfulness led to pro-social values and the current experiences in order to bring a quality
ecologically sustainable practices and enhanced of consciousness having sensitive awareness,
subjective well-being and quality of life. Other curiosity, openness and acceptance. Such
studies have also reported the positive effects of conceptualization suggests that mindfulness may
mindfulness training on different wellbeing promote a healthy emotional engagement and
dimensions and suggest that mindfulness reduces emotion regulation by making people aware of
stress and increases the life satisfaction, relaxation their emotional experiences in a compassionate
and decreases burn-out symptoms and negative and non-judgemental way (Hayes & Feldman,
emotions in the clinical population (Corey, 2004).
Patricia & Rhonda, 2006). Similarly, it has been The empirical support for this theorization comes
found that mindfulness contributes to the from studies suggesting a significant role of
subjective well-being of the social workers (Shier mindfulness in enhancing effective management
& Graham, 2011) and influences several of negative emotions in clinical population. For
dimensions of well-being (Cherie & Dianne, example, in a correlational study on mindfulness
2010). skills and emotional regulation it was found that
All these studies seem to converge on the fact that mindfulness was positively correlated with
mindfulness is associated with different emotion regulation and it also controlled the
components of subjective well-being such as symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress
greater life satisfaction, enhanced positive and (Shannon, Kristalyn, & Lizabeth, 2005). Similarly,
reduced negative emotions. The preceding Goldin and Gross (2010) empirically investigated
review also suggests that mindfulness as a the effect of mindfulness training on emotional
practice as well as a trait enhances positive reactivity and attention regulation in a sample of
functioning and reduces pain or sufferings mainly patients with social anxiety disorder. Their results
by inducing greater emotional management i.e. revealed that mindfulness based training induces
increasing positive affective experiences and greater emotion regulation which results in
decreasing negative affective experiences related improvement in anxiety, depression, decreased
to physical and psychological illness. Such negative emotional experiences and emotional
findings open a scope to speculate that reactivity. Findings support the idea that
mindfulness relates with health and well-being mindfulness empowers individuals to manage
through emotion regulatory mechanisms. negative emotional experiences.
However, feasibility of such speculation depends Similar findings have been obtained by many
on the nature and magnitude of relationship others. For example, Foley, Baillie, Huxter, Price
between mindfulness and emotion regulation on and Sinclair (2010) examined the effectiveness of
one hand and the link between emotion mindfulness-based training programme for the
regulation and health on the other. The following individuals with a diagnosis of cancer. Their
two sections presents a brief overview of the result showed that this training programme
empirical studies dealing with the relationship of produced significant improvement in
mindfulness and emotion regulation as well as mindfulness and reduction in depression, anxiety
emotion regulation and health. and other negative emotions. Such observations
Mindfulness and Emotion-regulation further support the idea that mindfulness
The conceptual models of mindfulness suggest it empowers individuals to manage negative
162 Mandal, Arya & Pandey

emotional experiences. In a study Kumar and appraisal. In case of positivity bias people have a
associates (Kumar, Feldman & Hayes, 2003) strong tendency to attend and process only
observed that mindfulness was associated with positive stimuli and they cognitively appraise
decreases in experiential avoidance and neutral stimuli in the positive ways. Issacowitz
rumination. Experiential avoidance and (2005) put this process as like perceiving the
rumination are two forms of severe difficulties in world with a “rose colored glasses.” If we try to
the process of adaptive emotion regulation. put the relationship between mindfulness and
Overall, the findings of the preceding studies positivity bias in the theoretical light, the Socio-
clearly indicates a potential link between Emotional Selectivity theory (SEST) would be the
mindfulness and emotion regulation and suggest best one to explain this process. The Socio-
hat mindfulness may lead to better emotionally Emotional Selectivity theory, given by Carstensen
regulated state by reducing negative affectivity et al. (1999) states that when a person is more
and various emotion related difficulties. The concerned and motivated towards present
hypothesis that mindfulness may improve experiences and less towards future expectations,
emotion regulatory mechanisms through he tends to be more focused in attending positive
reduction in negative affect or enhancement of stimuli and perceiving neutral stimuli in a positive
positive affect gets support from several empirical way i.e. positivity bias occurs. According to SEST,
studies and theories related to positive/negative positivity bias actually occurs in case of older
affect. For example, Researchers have observed ones who perceive that their deaths are near so
that mindfulness-practice is strongly correlated they are more involved in present experiences
with increased positive emotion experiences and less future-oriented. Similarly mindfulness
(Ekblad, 2009). Fredrickson (2000) has also may also induce positivity bias as it promotes
associated her famous broaden-and-build theory awareness of and attention to the present reality
to the practice of mindfulness. She and reduces the load of future expectations.
conceptualized that mindfulness promotes more Again positivity bias increases emotion regulation
awareness and sensitivity to positive emotions as it leads a person to perceive positive emotional
which in turn broadens an individual's though- cues only and to ignore the stimuli which contain
action repertoire and increases psychological negative emotional cues. So, it can be inferred
resource and well-being. She thought that from the SEST that mindfulness leads to better
mindfulness practice generates mindful emotional regulation by inducing positivity bias.
awareness which makes people free from fear, From the preceding review it is clear that the
anxiety and other negative emotions. Arch and attributes of mindfulness regulate emotional
Craske (2006) empirically investigated the effects mechanisms by cognitively manipulating and
of 15-minutes brief mindful breathing exercise on restructuring the emotional cues at the early
the experiences of emotion regulation. Their phase of emotion generation. On the basis of
result spoke for the view that mindfulness these earlier studies it one may infer that
enhances emotion regulation by reducing mindfulness leads to greater emotion regulation
negative emotional experiences. This study also through cognitive manipulation of the emotional
bring out the fact that negative emotions can be cues that directly influences the emotion
reduced or overcome by enhancing awareness generation process.
and acceptance of the negative or difficult stimuli Emotion regulation and well-being
(Ekbald, 2009). According to Ekbald (2009) this
study also reflects that mindfulness possibly The preceding section dealing with the
results in 'Positivity bias' which has been mindfulness and well-being relationship though,
conceptualized as a process of cognitive suggest the possibility that mindfulness exerts
 Mindfulness, emotion regulation and well-being 163

beneficial effect on happiness and well-being by appraisal strategy and expressive suppression
influencing the emotion regulatory mechanisms, strategy are related to well-being in different
it does not provide direct empirical support for ways. Cognitive appraisal is positively associated
the link between emotion regulation and well- with well-being whereas expressive suppression
being. The present section thus, briefly reviews results in negative outcomes. Haga and associates
the empirical studies that focused directly on the also investigated the effects of these two emotion
relationship of emotion regulation with well- regulation strategies on the personality processes,
being. individual differences and life span development.
According to Gross (1998), “Emotion regulation They found that the cognitive appraisal promotes
refers to how we try to influence which emotions healthier profile of cognitive, affective and social
we have, when we have them, and how we consequences than expression suppression. They
experience and express these emotions”. Gross confirmed the fact that the cognitive appraisal
(1998) also proposed a model for emotion strategy is related to positive affective
regulation, known as process model in which he experiences, social functioning and well-being.
mentioned five different strategies for emotion Similarly, Quoidbach, Berry, Hansenne and
regulation such as situation selection, situation Mikolajczak (2010) in their study, examined the
modification, attention deployment, cognitive effects of positive emotion regulation strategies
change and response modulation. According to on two basic dimensions of subjective well-being
him, these five types of strategies can be in a sample of 282 participants. Their result
categorized as “antecedent focused” and showed that positive emotion regulation
“response focused” on the basis of their shared increases the experience of positive emotional
similarities. The first four emotion regulation states, enhances life satisfaction and decreases
strategies are “antecedent-focused” or cognitive negative emotional experiences. Their result also
strategies as they appear before cognitive suggested that wide range of emotional
appraisal and generate full-blown emotional regulation strategies instead of some specific ones
responses. The last one is “response-focused” or promotes overall happiness and life satisfaction.
response suppression because it comes after the Findings from some other studies are also in
generation of emotional responses (Gross & consonant with these findings. For example, it
Munoz, 1995; Gross & Thompson, 2007). The has been found that proper emotion regulation
conscious control over the emotion generation strategies foster higher life-satisfaction and lowers
process can significantly determine the overall negative affect (Martini & Busseri,2010), whereas
status of human health and well-being (Garland, improper emotion regulation strategy i.e.
Gaylord & Park, 2009). expression suppression, leads to increased
vulnerability to negative symptoms, burn out and
Researchers have shown that use of different
decreased well-being (Zammuner, Lotto & Galli,
types of emotion regulation strategies are related
2003).
with different health outcomes. In a study, Haga,
Kraft and Corby (2009) raised the fact that Overall, the review suggests that the beneficial
successful emotion regulation is quite effective effect of emotion regulation depends upon the
for adaptive functioning of the individual. In their nature of emotional regulatory strategies used. It
study, they explored the effects of two emotion is evident from the preceding review that when
regulation strategies, namely cognitive appraisal emotions are regulated through cognitive
and expressive suppression, on well-being of the reappraisal and/or restructuring it is very much
university students of Norway, Australia and beneficial for health and well-being but when it is
U.S.A. Their study showed that cognitive done through deliberate expression suppression
164 Mandal, Arya & Pandey

it often results in negative symptoms, decreased Further, the conceptual synthesis of the
satisfaction with life and well-being. In other definitional models of mindfulness with
words the present review indicates that emotion empirical findings also support the possibility that
regulation processes are associated with health the positive influence of mindfulness on health
and well-being but the nature of outcome and well-being is likely to be mediated by
depends on the type of emotion regulatory emotional factors such as emotion regulation. For
mechanisms used. Cognitive reappraisal example, mindfulness as defined by Baer, Smith,
improves human health by successfully altering Hopkins, Krietemeyer, and Toney (2006),
emotional cues at early phase that exerts direct includes five dimensions like observation of
influence on biological stress pathway, involved emotional states, its description, action with
in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary- awareness, not judging emotions in terms of its
adrenal (HPA) and cortisol secretion (Garland, valences and non-reactivity to inner experiences.
Gaylord & Park, 2009). On the contrary, it is also These mindfulness dimensions reflect and
evident in the literature that expression promote high self-regulatory emotional states by
suppression leads to psycho-somatic ill making individuals cognitively distanced from
symptoms. the emotion turmoil (Hayes et al., 1999), which in
Conclusion turn may promote better health and well-being.
However, as far as the nature of this emotion
The preceding review makes it explicit that
regulation mediated relationship between
mindfulness as a trait as well as practice is
mindfulness and well-being is concerned, the
associated with better health and well-being.
present review suggests that it depends on the
However, the mechanism or process through
nature of emotion regulation strategy or
which mindfulness brings positive health
mechanisms. It is evident from the present review
outcomes is under curious concerns of the
that certain sub-domains of emotion regulation
researchers. The present review suggests the
such as cognitive appraisal strategies correlate
possibility that that mindfulness may give
positively with health and well-being, whereas
beneficial effect on health and well-being through
others like response suppression strategies
positively modifying the emotion regulatory
correlate negatively with the same. In the light of
mechanisms. Such speculation is based on the
these observations it may be argued that
observation that mindfulness correlates with both
mindfulness may influence certain aspects of
emotion regulation and human health/well-being
emotion regulation which in turn may influence
and emotion regulation is also lined with health
the health status and well-being of an individual.
and well-being. In a relatively recent review
Nyklíèek (2011) also speculated the possibility However, we could not find much empirical
that emotion regulation is likely to mediate the studies directly examining the mediating role
positive effects of mindfulness on well-being. emotion regulation in mindfulness – well-being
However, he also proposed a new elaborated relationship. Few researchers conducted path
theoretical model suggesting that mindfulness analytic studies which showed that mindfulness
influences well-being through some of its direct indeed had indirect effect on psychological
outcomes such as relaxation, insight, contact, and distress through emotion regulation ability
harmony. These direct outcomes of mindfulness (Coffey & Hartmann, 2008). Indirect empirical
exert their beneficial effects on a number of support for the mediating role of emotion
lower-level intermediate factors (that includes regulation in mindfulness-health/well-being
nonvolitional emotion regulation), which finally relationship also comes from the studies
influence psychological well-being. exploring the mediating role of other emotion
 Mindfulness, emotion regulation and well-being 165

related constructs such as emotional intelligence conclusion after making an exhaustive review of
and positive-negative affect. For example, the existing literature, the scarcity of empirical
Mandal, Arya and Pandey (2012) explored the studies directly assessing the mediational role of
mediating role of positive/negative affectivity in emotion regulation in mindfulness and well-
relationship between mindfulness and health. being relationship would be stumbling block to
The results indicated that mindfulness was support and generalize our conclusions. Despite
associated with SWB as well as with higher the convincing evidences and some
positive emotional experience and lower direct/indirect empirical to support the
negative affect. However, indirect beneficial conclusion that emotion regulation may
effect of mindfulness on mental health was potentially mediate the relationship between
observed largely due to reduction of negative mindfulness and well-being, our own ongoing
affectivity rather than its positive emotion research is likely to cast doubt on the said
enhancing effect. Similarly, Schutte and Malouff conclusion. A recent unpublished study
(2011) in a recent study explored the mediating conducted by the present research group failed to
role of emotional intelligence between provide support for the mediational role of
mindfulness and SWB. They found that emotion regulation in the mindfulness –
mindfulness was positively associated with subjective well-being relationship (Mandal, Arya
emotional intelligence, positive affect and life & Pandey, 2012). We in fact, noted that emotion
satisfaction whereas higher emotional regulation has a direct effect on some dimensions
intelligence led to enhanced positive affects and of mindfulness as well as indirect effect on various
life satisfaction. These studies provide indirect components of SWB through mindfulness. Such
support for the possible role of emotion observations, thus, put a caveat against the
regulation in explaining mindfulness- well-being present theorization as well as earlier empirical
relationship inasmuch as they observed the findings that the beneficial effect of mindfulness
beneficial effect of mindfulness on health/well- on well-being is mediated by emotion regulation.
being through modification of some emotional The scarcity of empirical evidences and
aspects closely related to emotion regulation. explanation of the mechanism through which the
To sum up, the available direct and indirect mindfulness promotes health and wellbeing
empirical evidences suggests that human well- makes this area lively for further investigation.
being and happiness is related with the The present review, however, helps to funnel this
dispositional mindfulness as well as with the area to a specific mediator – emotion regulation
emotion regulation strategies focusing on and extends two possibilities- the mindfulness
cognitive reappraisal. Further, it also suggest the may influence health and well-being through
possibility that the health promoting and well- emotion regulation or mindfulness may emerge
being enhancing effect of mindfulness is likely to as a mediator for explaining the emotion
be mediated by emotion regulation and certain regulation –health/well-being relationship.
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