The Chinese medicine construct "stagnation" in mind-body connection mediates the effects of mindfulness training on depression and anxiety

Abstract

Objectives Previous studies have identified different, but highly correlated variables explaining the effects of mindfulness training. Many of them are limited by tautological explanation. Under the framework of the mind–body connection, mindfulness training cultivates body awareness and promotes self-management of illness. Stagnation, a concept from Chinese medicine, may help explain the mechanism of change in mindfulness training.

Methods Individuals with depressive and anxiety symptoms (n = 82) were randomized to either a Compassion-Mindfulness Therapy (C-MT) program or a waitlist control condition. The effect of stagnation as a mediator was investigated for dependent variables including depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental health variables.

Major outcome measures Depression, anxiety, stagnation, physical distress, daily functioning, positive affect, negative affect.

Results Compared with the participants in the control group, those who completed C-MT demonstrated significant decreases in depression, F(1, 78) = 15.67, p < .001, anxiety, F(1, 78) = 7.72, p < .001, stagnation, F(1, 78) = 4.96, p < .001, and other body–mind–spirit well-being measures. After entering the change in stagnation as the mediator, the effect of treatment reduced: depression (.35–.22), anxiety (.33–.05), and same patterns in other three secondary measures. The Sobel test was administered and significant reductions between group and depression (z = 2.18, p = .029), anxiety (z = 2.21, p = .027), and three secondary other measures (p < .05) were indicated.

Conclusion The study provides initial support for the role of stagnation in mediating changes in mindfulness training. It adds evidence to body–mind nondualism and offers new possibilities in studying treatment process and change mechanism.