Does a Brief Mindfulness Induction Buffer Emotional and Behavioral Indicators of Ostracism Distress?

Research on ostracism indicates that brief instances of exclusion threaten feelings of control, belonging, meaningful existence, and self-esteem (collectively known as need threat) and increase negative affect. The temporal need threat model of ostracism theorizes that re-inclusion is a primary goal following exclusion, but if re-inclusion is perceived as unlikely, the excluded individual may become less helpful or behave aggressively to cope with their threatened control and meaningful existence needs. Recently, researchers have suggested that the practice of mindful attention could be utilized to mitigate the negative effects of ostracism. Further, decentering has been proposed as a potential mechanism of mindfulness, however, this has not been investigated in the context of ostracism. The goal of the proposed study is to examine the efficacy of a brief mindfulness induction in reducing the negative effects of ostracism on need threat, negative affect, and aggression. Additionally, the present study examines the relationship between decentering and ostracism distress indicators. Three groups of participants engaged in an online ostracism manipulation task and proceeded to complete measures of need threat, negative affect, and aggression. Prior to a measure of state mindfulness and the online ostracism task, participants were randomly assigned to either a brief instruction in mindfulness, a brief instruction in progressive muscle relaxation, or an inactive control group. Results indicated no significant differences across conditions on outcomes of need threat, negative affect, and aggression. Further, results indicated that the brief mindfulness induction did not increase decentering relative to the controls. Separate correlations suggest that decentering was associated with need threat and negative affect. However, there was no relationship between decentering and aggression. The present study sought to address gaps in the literature regarding the effect of mindfulness on need threat, negative affect, and aggression distress outcomes and explored a potential mechanism of mindfulness. Limitations and future directions are discussed. Keywords: mindfulness, ostracism, need threat, aggression, negative affect, decentering