Trauma- and Stressor-Related History and Symptoms Predict Distress Experienced during a Brief Mindfulness Meditation Sitting: Moving toward Trauma-Informed Care in Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Abstract

The present study evaluated focused attention, affective response, and other subjective experiences during a mindfulness meditation exercise, relative to participant exposure to lifetime trauma, life stress experienced in the past year, and trauma-related symptoms experienced over the past month. Participants were recruited from a university introductory psychology course (n = 151). Meditation Breath Attention Scores (MBAS) were used to assess focused attention during a brief mindfulness meditation, and self-report questionnaires assessing subjective responses to the meditation were administered afterward. All participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing trauma exposure, life stress, and trauma-related symptoms prior to the meditation. Participant history of stressful and traumatic life events and trauma- and stressor-related symptoms that were assessed prior to the meditation were found to be predictive of distress experienced during the meditation. We conclude that mindfulness meditation-based therapy for persons with trauma-related mental health problems should be trauma-informed. Limitations of the study and future research directions are discussed.