Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Graham, Steven

Keywords

Stress, Self-Regulation, Self-Monitoring, Psychology

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Self-regulation, a critical function of the executive self, enables many capabilities that define us as “human.” Specifically, it allows us to modify our behavior, emotions, and thoughts to be in line with our long term goals by self-monitoring to make effective decisions, resist desires for short-term pleasures, and so on. This ability plays a key role in the success of a broad range of endeavors. Thus, exploring ways to increase self-regulatory success is of paramount importance to all populations. The current study explores whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which trains the mind to focus and willfully direct attention, may make individuals better self-regulators. The hypothesis proposes that the increase in self-awareness from MBSR may lead to better self-monitoring, which is integral to effective self-regulation. Additionally, the improvements in affect, decreases in rumination, and focus on nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness that result from MBSR may play several specific roles in preventing self-regulatory failure. The current research uses a pretest-posttest case study design with five participants from a MBSR course. Participants showed modest improvements on the Recent Rash Impulsivity Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale—Short Form, the Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. This study affirms the need for further research on this topic. If this trend is further supported, it opens the door to research that enables us to better understand how help individuals be more successful at countless daily tasks – everything from maintaining a diet to maintaining a marriage.

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