Kindness Infused Embodied Regulation (KIER): A mechanistic theory linking relational kindness to nutrition, movement, and health behavior change in neurodivergent adults

Abstract:

Kindness-Infused Embodied Regulation (KIER) is a novel, testable theoretical framework that explicates how intentionally embedding kindness self-directed, relational, and action-oriented within nutrition and movement interventions creates a mechanistic pathway to improved physiological regulation, sustained behavior change, and downstream biopsychosocial health outcomes for neurodivergent adults. KIER synthesizes polyvagal-informed autonomic science, compassion-focused approaches, scaffolded routine formation, and neurodiversity-affirming adaptations into five core constructs: clinical kindness, embodied regulation, scaffolded routine formation, relational motivational scaffolds, and sensory-responsive adaptation. The theory proposes five interlocking mechanisms: (1) threat-buffering, whereby kindness reduces perceived social and internal threat enabling learning; (2) autonomic co-regulation, where shared kindness practices increase ventral vagal engagement measurable via HRV; (3) reward-reframing, in which kindness shifts reinforcement from punitive to socially and intrapersonally rewarding; (4) executive scaffolding, which reduces cognitive load for behavior enactment; and (5) identity-extension, linking purposeful world-level kindness to sustained values-based engagement. KIER maps these mechanisms onto concrete clinical strategies—micro-practices (2–15 min), sensory-matched meal planning, co-regulated movement modules, kindness-informed motivational interviewing, and community micro-actions—and identifies a pragmatic measurement set (SCS, DERS, HRV snapshots, accelerometry, dietary indices, adherence logs, and qualitative process data) for empirical testing. We propose a staged research agenda beginning with feasibility pilots to evaluate acceptability, adherence, and mechanistic signals, followed by mechanistic mediation studies and randomized trials. If supported, KIER offers a scalable, equity-oriented pathway to integrate relational kindness into primary care, behavioral health, and community programs to reduce shame, increase regulation, and improve health behaviors among neurodivergent populations.

Keywords: kindness, neurodiversity, embodied regulation, nutrition, movement, HRV, behavior change, pilot study

Biography:

Dr. Jefferies is a clinician-educator, researcher, and program developer who creates and implements trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming interventions that integrate somatic regulation, compassion-based practices, and pragmatic behavioral supports. He is the developer of Spectrum of Kindness Therapy (SKT) and the Kindness-Infused Nutrition & Movement (KINM) model, and he leads translational pilot research, curriculum and certification development, and clinician training focused on accessible, measurement-driven care. His work spans direct clinical practice (individual, couple, family, and group therapy), program design and rollout (school, outpatient, correctional, and crisis-stabilization settings), clinician supervision and OSCE-based competency assessment, workshop and conference presentations, grant and protocol development, implementation consultation (fidelity, evaluation, and scale-up), digital tool and workbook development, and collaboration with peer-support networks to integrate lived-experience expertise. He also provides supervision, consultation for telehealth adaptation, and tailored training for teams balancing shift work and diverse sensory/communication needs. Dr. Jefferies trains clinicians, advises systems on equity and neurodiversity accommodations, and publishes and presents on operationalizing compassion as an actionable clinical modality.