Effects of a Single Session of Mindfulness and Compassion on Skin Temperature in Breast Cancer Survivors

David A. Rodríguez (), Nadia Martínez, Li Erandi Tepepa Flores, Benjamín Domínguez, Patricia Cortés and Ana L. Chávez
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David A. Rodríguez: Department of Sociology, Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico
Nadia Martínez: Research and Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Li Erandi Tepepa Flores: Centro de Atención y Evaluación Psicológica “Dr. Benjamín Domínguez”, Texcoco 56100, Mexico
Benjamín Domínguez: Research and Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Patricia Cortés: Oncology Service, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Mexico City 03229, Mexico
Ana L. Chávez: Department of Sociology, Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that mindfulness programs can be useful, in a significant sector of the population, to reduce stress when practiced for at least 8 weeks. The objective of the present investigation was to explore the effect of a single session of mindfulness practice in reducing stress in female cancer survivors. Two repeated measures studies were applied; in the first one, it was performed individually, while in the second one, it was performed in a group. Psychosocial measures were administered, and skin temperature was recorded as a marker of autonomic nervous activity. The results indicate that only when the mindfulness exercise was presented did the skin temperature increase ( p < 0.05), with a large effect size (d > 0.8) during compassion, suggesting sympathetic decline. Furthermore, the psychosocial functioning of the group of female cancer survivors was like that of the non-clinical population. The data are discussed in the context of Polyvagal Theory, a theoretical model of biopsychosocial functioning, and evidence is provided on the effect of mindfulness and compassion on reducing stress and inducing positive affect in female cancer survivors.

Keywords: skin temperature; mindfulness; compassion; affect; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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