Effects of a Mindful Rational Living Intervention on the Experience of Destructive Emotions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the effects of a 90-day mindful rational living (MRL) program on the experience of destructive emotions—anger, anxiety, depression, guilt—among a normal population in a pilot trial. The MRL program combines mindfulness meditation techniques with rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) strategies. Participants were 17 adults who completed the MRL program. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, which included scales measuring anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, rumination, shame, and subjective happiness. As hypothesized, participants showed significant decreases in anger, rumination, anxiety, depression, and shame after participating in the MRL program. There were no significant increases in subjective happiness. Findings from this pilot study provide preliminary support for the potential utility of interventions that combine mindfulness meditation with REBT strategies and can be used as the basis of future studies.