Chronic stress is associated with reduced mindful acceptance skills but not with mindful attention monitoring: a cross-sectional study.

Mindfulness-based psychological interventions (MBIs) are effective in reducing chronic stress, yet little is known about their therapeutic mechanisms. One possibility is that MBIs act by re-training attention monitoring and acceptance skills which have been impaired by chronic stress exposure. However, a paucity of research has investigated whether chronic stress is associated with reduced monitoring and acceptance skills. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between self-reported chronic stress, self-reported acceptance, and behavioural attention monitoring measures. We hypothesised to observe correlations between chronic stress, and (impaired) monitoring and acceptance measures. Moreover, we explored and statistically compared the magnitude of the correlation between chronic stress and four self-reported acceptance measures. Finally, we explored whether the association between chronic stress and monitoring is moderated by acceptance. Adults (n = 85) completed self-reported measures and a behavioural attentional task. Results revealed that chronic stress was associated with reduced acceptance skills but not with attention monitoring. Exploratory analyses revealed no differences in the magnitude of the correlation between chronic stress and each acceptance measure, except for the combined facets of mindfulness acceptance subscales and nonreactivity subscale. Further analyses revealed a significant negative association between chronic stress and the interaction between acceptance and the target detection component of monitoring. Surprisingly, these results show that chronic stress is associated with reduced target detection efficiency, at higher levels of acceptance. Future longitudinal studies may investigate whether MBIs can effectively train attention and reduced acceptance skills in individuals reporting high level of chronic stress and how these improvements may drive stress reduction.