A Quantitative Study Investigating the Relationship between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), Misophonia and Mindfulness.

Scofield, Emma (2019) A Quantitative Study Investigating the Relationship between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), Misophonia and Mindfulness. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory phenomenon which has received growing attention in recent years. Linked to an array of improvements in psychological wellbeing, ASMR holds potential therapeutic benefits. Previous research has drawn an association between ASMR and mindfulness, and a growing body of research links ASMR to the experience of misophonia. Misophonia is characterised by a disproportionate aversive response to certain sounds. The current study investigated the relationship between ASMR, misophonia and mindfulness. Furthermore, the current study looked to investigate specific triggers of ASMR and misophonic responses. 248 participants completed an online study, measuring state and trait ASMR, misophonia and mindfulness, through questionnaires and sensory-emotional responses to a series of 7 audio-clips featuring popular ASMR and misophonia triggers. Data was analysed using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, significant positive correlations were found between ASMR, misophonia and the Observing subscale of the FFMQ-15 mindfulness measure. Additionally, significant negative correlations were found between misophonia and the Non-Judging of Inner Experience and Non-Reactivity to Inner Experience subscales of the FFMQ-15. A series of repeated-measures ANOVA’s and further post-hoc corrected simple contrasts found that whispering sounds were the strongest trigger of ASMR responses, whilst eating noises were the strongest trigger of aversive responses.