Self-reported mindfulness and cortisol during a Shamatha meditation retreat.
Tonya L Jacobs, Phillip R Shaver, Elissa S Epel, Anthony P Zanesco, Stephen R Aichele, David A Bridwell, Erika L Rosenberg, Brandon G King, Katherine A Maclean, Baljinder K Sahdra, Margaret E Kemeny, Emilio Ferrer, B Alan Wallace, Clifford D Saron
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association October 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1037/a0031362 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractCognitive perseverations such as worry and rumination may prolong cortisol release, potentially contributing to disease pathways. Meditation training can increase self-reported mindfulness, which is linked to reductions in such perseverations, but no prior work directly linked mindfulness to resting cortisol output. In an observational study of 57 adults on a 3-month meditation retreat, mindfulness increased from pre- to post-retreat, while cortisol did not significantly change overall. However, mindfulness was inversely related to evening cortisol at both time points, and larger increases in mindfulness were associated with decreases in cortisol, whereas smaller increases or slight decreases in mindfulness were linked to increases in cortisol. These findings suggest a relationship between self-reported mindfulness and resting output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Adults on a 3-month meditation retreat |
| Intervention | meditation retreat |
| Duration | 3-month meditation retreat |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation Stress reduction Cortisol levels Well-being |
| Citations | 62 |
| Key finding | Larger increases in self-reported mindfulness were associated with decreases in evening cortisol, while smaller increases or slight decreases in mindfulness were linked to increases in cortisol. |
Abstract
Cognitive perseverations that include worry and rumination over past or future events may prolong cortisol release, which in turn may contribute to predisease pathways and adversely affect physical health. Meditation training may increase self-reported mindfulness, which has been linked to reductions in cognitive perseverations. However, there are no reports that directly link self-reported mindfulness and resting cortisol output. Here, the authors investigate this link. In an observational study, we measured self-reported mindfulness and p.m. cortisol near the beginning and end of a 3-month meditation retreat (N = 57). Mindfulness increased from pre- to post-retreat, F(1, 56) = 36.20, p < .001. Cortisol did not significantly change. However, mindfulness was inversely related to p.m. cortisol at pre-retreat, r(53) = -.31, p < .05, and post-retreat, r(53) = -.30, p < .05, controlling for age and body mass index. Pre to postchange in mindfulness was associated with pre to postchange in p.m. cortisol, β = -.37, t(49) = 2.30, p < .05: Larger increases in mindfulness were associated with decreases in p.m. cortisol, whereas smaller increases (or slight decreases) in mindfulness were associated with an increase in p.m. cortisol. These data suggest a relation between self-reported mindfulness and resting output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. Future work should aim to replicate this finding in a larger cohort and determine stronger inference about causality by using experimental designs that include control-group conditions.