Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Psychology & Gerontology

First Advisor

Dr. Alvin Farmer Jr.

Abstract

This study examined the short-term effects of mindfulness meditation on cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, and stress reduction. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to enhance attentional control, emotional awareness, and adaptive coping, contributing to overall psychological well-being. Using a pre-test/post-test experimental design, 23 adult participants completed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), Emotion Regulation Scale (ERS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) before and after a 15-minute guided Open Monitoring Mindfulness Meditation (OMM) session. The meditation emphasized nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. It was hypothesized that participants will demonstrate increased cognitive flexibility, improved emotion regulation, and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression following the session. Results indicated significant reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety following the mindfulness mediation session, while changes in cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression were non-significant and cognitive flexibility actually decreased while still non-significant. This study aims to contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting mindfulness-based practices as effective tools for promoting psychological resilience and well-being.

Download

Share

COinS