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Updated: May 26, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Contemplative/emotion training reduces negative emotional behavior and promotes prosocial responses
Margaret E Kemeny1, Carol Foltz, James F Cavanagh
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. kemenym@healthpsych.ucsf.edu
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|December 14, 2011
Summary
This study shows that an 8-week meditation and emotion regulation training improved emotional behavior in teachers. The training reduced negative emotions and enhanced prosocial responses, with lasting effects observed.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Contemplative Science
Background:
- Contemplative practices are recognized for improving psychological well-being and prosocial behavior.
- Psychological science offers models for understanding and enhancing mental health.
- Integrating these fields can improve emotional regulation and socioemotional functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of an integrated meditation and emotion regulation intervention.
- To reduce destructive emotional expression and increase prosocial behavior.
- To evaluate the long-term effects of the training.
Main Methods:
- An 8-week, 42-hour intensive training program combining contemplative practices and emotion science.
- Randomized controlled trial with 82 female schoolteachers (training vs. wait-list control).
- Pre- and post-intervention assessments, including self-reports and behavioral tasks (e.g., Micro-Expression Training Tool, Trier Social Stress Test).
Main Results:
- The training group showed reduced negative affect, rumination, depression, and anxiety.
- Increased positive affect, mindfulness, and emotion recognition were reported.
- Behavioral tasks indicated enhanced compassion-related cognitive networks and reduced hostile marital interactions.
Conclusions:
- Integrating contemplative practices with psychological emotion regulation models benefits emotional behavior.
- Increased awareness of mental processes positively influences emotional responses.
- The training demonstrated sustained improvements in psychological and emotional functioning.
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