Developing an Instructional Package of Optimal Self-esteem Based on Mindfulness and its Effectiveness on Reducing Anger and Anger Rumination

Introduction: Anger has important social and health consequences, particularly cardiovascular health. This study investigated the effectiveness of instructional package of optimal self-esteem on decreasing anger and anger rumination. In framework of Kernis’s theory of optimal self-esteem and based on mindfulness approach, the package was implemented. Methods: The participants were 50 volunteered Shiraz University students. The research was a pretest-posttest with control group experimental design. The participants were randomly assigned to training group (n=25) and control group (n=25). The instruments of the research, Anger Rumination Scale and Multidimensional Anger Inventory, were completed by both groups at pre and posttest stages.  The participants of experimental group were trained for 4 weeks and twice a week (8 sessions), while the control group did not receive any interventions. Results: The results of MANCOVA showed there were significant differences between experimental and control groups in subscales of anger rumination including angry afterthought, thoughts of revenge, angry memories, understanding of causes and subscales of anger including anger arousal, anger situations and anger-in. Conclusion: The results provide sufficient evidences for effectiveness of the implemented package overall. Mindfulness based instructions could orient participants toward self-authenticity by developing self-awareness, growing unbiased cognitive processing, shaping behavior arose from one’s personal values and facilitating authentic and honest relationship, which in turn could promote secure and optimal self-esteem, and subsequently decrease anger and anger rumination.