Abstract
Due to the multi-factorial nature of the self-report of happiness, an enhancement program was designed that focused on mental style (subjective processes), and relationships, work, money, health, and leisure (objective life domains). An examination of interventions revealed mindfulness training (subjective factors) and goal setting (objective factors) as effective change modalities. To address this, the Mindfulness-based Quality of Life and Well-being Program (MQW) was developed and evaluated against the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Quality of Life Index, Personal Wellbeing Index–Adult, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Satisfaction with Life scale, and the newly developed Clinical Quality of Life Scale (CLINQOL). To explore training protocol effects, the program was delivered in a graduated (6 weekly sessions x 2 hours) and intensive (2 consecutive days x 6 hours) format. Using a randomized trial, participants were allocated across these conditions and a control. A total of 191 participants completed the study and were assessed at pre, post and follow up time points. Increases in mindfulness, quality of life, subjective well-being, and positive and negative affect (not life satisfaction), were greater in treated (combined formats) than control participants at post-test, and for mindfulness at follow up. Other than an increase in mindfulness for the 2 day condition at follow up, changes were similar in both intervention formats. Finally, to investigate what unique difference the MQW might have in comparison to teaching just mindfulness, the full version of the program was compared to an expanded section of the mindfulness component of the program. A total of 74 subjects began the program and filled out assessments across the three time periods. There was no difference between groups or an interaction between group and time. Overall, the findings provide preliminary evidence that a multi-dimensional training approach, using mindfulness and goal setting, may be a beneficial intervention model to enhance subjective and objective components in the perception of quality of life and well-being. However, further investigation into its added benefit to mindfulness alone is required.
Highlights
Quality of life (QoL) is a multi-factorial construct (Argyle, 1999; Hammer et al, 2019; Newman et al, 2013) seen as either health-related (Bakas et al, 2012), linked with the status/availability of resources (Hagerty & Veenhoven, 2003; Sőrés & Pető, 2015) or a more personal phenomenon mediated through the subjective perception of objective factors such as relationships, work, money, health or leisure (Brannan et al, 2012; Diener et al, 2017; Diener et al, 1999; Steptoe et al, 2015)
To assess baseline differences in randomisation, a chi square test of independence/relatedness was conducted to investigate the relationship between discrete variables and the three conditions. This analysis was done post intervention, in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement that choosing covariates based on significance tests for baseline differences might lead to omissions of important covariates (Moher et al, 2010; De Boer et al, 2015)
By examining the effect upon six dependent variables that, based on prior research and theory, were predicted to be modified by such interventions, the research sought to explore the efficacy of the newly developed Mindfulness-based Quality of Life and Well-being Program (MQW). Presented in both a six week graduated format and two day intensive format, the main hypothesis was that the program would improve scores in comparison to waitlist control, across the six dependent variables of mindfulness, quality of life, subjective well-being, positive and negative affect and life satisfaction
Summary
Quality of life (QoL) is a multi-factorial construct (Argyle, 1999; Hammer et al, 2019; Newman et al, 2013) seen as either health-related (Bakas et al, 2012), linked with the status/availability of resources (Hagerty & Veenhoven, 2003; Sőrés & Pető, 2015) or a more personal phenomenon mediated through the subjective perception of objective factors such as relationships, work, money, health or leisure (Brannan et al, 2012; Diener et al, 2017; Diener et al, 1999; Steptoe et al, 2015). QoL is typically distinguished from subjective well-being (SWB), sometimes colloquially known as ‘happiness’, which more refers to a global assessment of a person’s life and typically includes both positive and negative affect and cognitive evaluations of life satisfaction (Diener et al, 2013; Luhmann et al, 2012; Lyubomirsky, 2013). These terms are often used interchangeably in research and public policy (Peasgood et al, 2019) even though they are usually underpinned by different theory and measurement fields (Dolan et al, 2016).
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