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Related Concept Videos

Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III01:25

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III

Regular exercise and meditation serve as essential tools in managing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being.
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI01:30

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

Perceived Stress Change During a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Emotional Distress: Integrated Evidence From Two

Jialu Jin1, Dongyang Chen1, Mengyao He1

  • 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
|July 1, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduce emotional distress by lowering perceived stress. Reductions in perceived stress significantly mediate improvements in anxiety and depression, particularly depression.

Keywords:
early processemotional distressmindfulness‐based interventionperceived stress

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A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings
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A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings

Published on: January 22, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings
10:45

A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings

Published on: January 22, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Mindfulness Research

Background:

  • Emotional distress, including anxiety and depression, is a significant public health concern.
  • Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used to manage psychological distress.
  • The specific mechanisms through which MBIs exert their effects require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of perceived stress in mediating the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on emotional distress.
  • To examine the temporal relationship between perceived stress, anxiety, and depression within the context of an MBI.
  • To assess whether early reductions in perceived stress predict subsequent improvements in anxiety and depression.

Main Methods:

  • Two randomized controlled trials (N=636 and N=607) involving participants with high psychological distress.
  • Participants were randomized to either an MBI or a Waitlist control group.
  • Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were measured at various time points using validated instruments. Statistical analyses included linear mixed-effects models, mediation analyses, and cross-lagged panel models.

Main Results:

  • Both studies demonstrated significantly greater reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in the MBI group compared to the Waitlist control group.
  • Mediation analyses revealed that changes in perceived stress partially or substantially accounted for the intervention-related reductions in anxiety and depression.
  • Cross-lagged panel models indicated that perceived stress acted as a temporally preceding factor for depression and showed a bidirectional relationship with anxiety.

Conclusions:

  • Perceived stress is a key mechanism underlying the effectiveness of MBIs in reducing emotional distress, especially depression.
  • Early decreases in perceived stress during an MBI may serve as an indicator for subsequent improvements in anxiety and depression.
  • These findings highlight the importance of targeting perceived stress within mindfulness interventions for enhanced mental health outcomes.