Mindful Attitude Research Articles

Using a Randomized Clinical Trial to Test the Efficacy of a Culturally Responsive Mobile Health Application in African Americans

Mindfulness is a promising health promotion strategy for African Americans, and it is imperative that culturally responsive mindfulness approaches be accessible to this population. One way to address this need is to develop and test if culturally responsive mobile health (mhealth) applications are efficacious in reducing stress-related outcomes in this population. With this goal in mind, we employed a repeated-measures randomized control trial (RCT) across a 12-week intervention period to evaluate if participants in the intervention group outperformed a wait-list control group in reductions in stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties as well as in increases in self-compassion, resilience, and mindfulness attitudes and behaviors. Our sample included 170 Black/African American participants who were randomly assigned to either the intervention condition (n = 84) or the wait-list control group (n = 86). Participants in the intervention condition reported more self-compassion, used more mindfulness, and had greater self-efficacy using mindfulness; yet, no other differences were evident. Participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the app and gave it a positive rating for its relevance to their lives. These findings support the efficacy of a culturally responsive mindfulness mHealth app to enhance self-compassion and increase the use of health-promoting behaviors, like mindfulness, among African Americans. Implications for future research are discussed.

Adult Attachment and Fear of Missing Out: Does a Mindful Attitude Matter?

Fear of missing out (FoMO) involves the desire or urge to stay continuously connected to and kept up-to-date with a social reference group. The present study explored the relationships between adult attachment and FoMO and the potential mediating effect of a mindful attitude. The present study was carried out on 192 participants (meanage = 23.24 years; SDage = 4.33 years), of whom 151 (78.6%) were female and the remaining 41 (21.4%) were male. The participants completed the Adult Attachment Scale—Revised (AAS-R), which evaluates Close, Depend, and Anxiety attachment, the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale—Revised (CAMS-R) and the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOs). The results indicated that the three forms of adult attachment (Close, Depend, and Anxiety) were associated with FoMO through the indirect effect of mindful attitudes. This study yielded relevant theoretical and practical implications regarding the critical role of a mindful attitude as a protective factor against FoMO. Limitations and future research directions were also discussed.

Nature-Based Mindfulness: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Support for Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is pivotal for human well-being and mental health. In this qualitative study, we followed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and explored how a five-day residential mindfulness program in a restorative natural setting supported self-regulation among university students experiencing moderate to severe stress. Six participants were interviewed post intervention and at three months' follow-up on how they experienced the retreat. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, four interrelated themes emerged: "supportive conditions", "attitudes of mindfulness", "connection" and "physical and psychological balance." These themes reflected the outcomes of the retreat that participants valued in stressful situations. A progression occurred during the retreat through the themes, with emphasis developing from the supportive conditions of the setting, to cultivating mindful attitudes, over connection to both self, others and nature, to changes and effects on the physical, psychological and even spiritual level. In addition, participants emphasized experiences of positive emotions, energy, calmness, meta-awareness and the feeling of being part of the web of life. In conclusion, participants' experiences with a five-day nature-based mindfulness intervention revealed a range of qualities of both physical-, psychological-, social- and spiritual nature that are supportive for self-regulation.

“INTEGRO INTEGRated Psychotherapeutic InterventiOn” on the Management of Chronic Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia: The Role of the Therapeutic Relationship

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease characterized by a heterogeneous set of physical and psychological conditions. The chronic experience of disability felt by patients and the impact on quality of life (QoL) of the disease may worsen the cognitive reappraisal ability and contribute to maintaining an altered pain modulation mechanism. This paper presents the study protocol of an INTEGRated psychotherapeutic interventiOn on the management of chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia (INTEGRO). The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of an integrated psychotherapeutic intervention focused on pain management on QoL and pain perception, in a pilot sample of 45 FM patients with idiopathic chronic pain. The contribution of perceived therapeutic relationship (alliance) and physiological attunement, in both the patient and therapist, will be considered as possible mediators of intervention efficacy. Attachment dimensions, traumatic experiences, difficulties in emotion regulation, mindfulness attitude and psychophysiological profile will also be considered as covariates. The objectives are to evaluate longitudinally if patients will experience an increase in QoL perception (primary endpoint), pain-managing self-efficacy and emotion-regulation abilities as well as a reduction in pain intensity (secondary endpoints), considering the mediating role of perceived therapeutic alliance and physiological attunement in both the patient and therapist.

Early Maladaptive Schemas and Self-Stigma in People with Physical Disabilities: The Role of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility.

Self-stigmatizing thoughts may be rooted in one’s core beliefs, and in turn be associated with early maladaptive schemas (EMS). Psychological flexibility, an ability to distance and accept one’s thoughts, is reported to diminish EMS’s effect on well-being, while self-compassion, a mindful attitude towards one’s suffering, often reduces self-stigma. The objective of this study was to examine associations between EMS, self-stigma, psychological flexibility and self-compassion in individuals with disabilities, as they are at higher risk of experiencing self-stigma. Participants were 238 persons with disabilities. The Self-Stigma Scale, Young’s Schemas Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale Short and the Acceptance and Action-II Questionnaire were used. Hierarchical regression and mediation analysis were used to establish (1) predictors and (2) potential mediators of self-stigma in people with disabilities. Hierarchical regression showed that EMS alone accounted for 39% of the variance explained by self-stigma, and with the addition of psychological flexibility—an additional 2% was explained. Parallel mediation analyses indicated that psychological flexibility partially mediated the relationship between EMS domains and self-stigma. It appears that psychological rigidity is related to self-stigma and should be addressed in treatment through evidence-based approaches such as Schema Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to enhance individuals’ healthy life patterns, flexibility and self-compassion.

Reduced Anxiety Associated to Adaptive and Mindful Coping Strategies in General Practitioners Compared With Hospital Nurses in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Primary Care Reorganization.

COVID-19 pandemic imposed psychosocial stress increasing in frontline healthcare workers, who managed by responding with different coping strategies. General practitioners were targeted by an extraordinary increase in the demand for reception, diagnosis and treatment from all patients even if working in solo. In Italy, the emergency changed risk assumption and roles in between primary care, unraveling the emotional distress of general practitioners, who suffered not only for isolation, but also emotional threatens. In this correlational study we wanted to evaluate trait anxiety and stress as perceived by general practitioners working in individual ambulatory practice room, and by hospital ward nurses working in group, during a chronic phase (February–May 2021) of COVID-19 pandemic. Our hypothesis is that a different work social organization in clinic contest as for general practitioners compared with nurses could induce adaptive or non-adaptive coping to stress under emergency and mindful attitude could be crucial. A number of 37 general practitioners, and 36 nurses were taken from the sanitary district of ASL1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila in Italy. For our analyses we used the Health Professions Stress and Coping Scale to assess the risk of burn-out, and detect the coping strategies. We also used the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, investigating whether clinicians used an eventual mindful attitude to prevent anxiety and responding with adaptive coping strategies. General practitioners reported high levels of anxiety, associated to an increased use of emotional distress. Mindful attitude was protective for anxiety in both general practitioners and nurses. As anxiety increased, it was coped by increasing the demand for social support. This coping strategy correlated with emotional distress and when enhanced, it corresponded to avoidance of the problem. Mindful attitude addressed general practitioners to adaptive coping strategies as the solution of the problem. On the other side, nurses accepted the problem but addressed it to others, by avoiding solving it themselves as beyond their role and organizational responsibility. In conclusion, mindful attitude can prevent dysfunctional reactive behaviors among clinicians at the forefront of emergency and reduce emotional distress for isolation as suffered by general practitioners.

The Evolution of Psychological and Behavioral Consequences of Self-Isolation During Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study Across United Kingdom and Italy.

IntroductionSeveral countries imposed nationwide or partial lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19 and avoid overwhelming hospitals and intensive care units. Lockdown may involve restriction of movement, stay-at-home orders and self-isolation, which may have dramatic consequences on mental health. Recent studies demonstrated that the negative impact of lockdown restrictions depends on a wide range of psychological and socio-demographic factors.AimsThis longitudinal study aimed to understand how internal factors such as personality and mindfulness traits, and external factors, such as daily habits and house features, affect anxiety, depression and general wellbeing indicators, as well as cognitive functions, during the course of a lockdown.MethodsTo address these questions, 96 participants in Italy and the United Kingdom filled out a survey, once a week for 4 weeks, during the first-wave lockdowns. The survey included questions related to their habits and features of the house, as well as validated questionnaires to measure personality traits, mindful attitude and post-traumatic symptoms. Indicators of wellbeing were the affective state, anxiety, stress and psychopathological indices. We also measured the emotional impact of the pandemic on cognitive ability by using two online behavioral tasks [emotional Stroop task (EST) and visual search].ResultsWe found that internal factors influenced participants’ wellbeing during the first week of the study, while external factors affected participants in the last weeks. In the first week, internal variables such as openness, conscientiousness and being non-judgmental toward one’s own thoughts and emotions were positively associated with wellbeing; instead, neuroticism and the tendency to observe and describe one’s own thoughts and emotions had detrimental effects on wellbeing. Toward the end of the study, external variables such as watching television and movies, browsing the internet, walking the dog, and having a balcony showed a protective value, while social networking and engaging in video calls predicted lower values of wellbeing. We did not find any effects of wellbeing on cognitive functioning.ConclusionRecognizing specific traits and habits affecting individuals’ wellbeing (in both short and long terms) during social isolation is crucial to identify people at risk of developing psychological distress and help refine current guidelines to alleviate the psychological consequences of prolonged lockdowns.

Spirituality and Mindfulness Practices of Early Childhood and Elementary Preservice Teachers: A Snapshot

This paper describes the results of a research survey that interpreted the patterns of mindfulness and spirituality within a convenience sample of preservice teachers at a Midwest teacher education institution. Mindfulness and spiritualty represent topics of developing interest in teacher education that serve to increase candidate focus and revision of practice. Respondents completed a survey as part of a semester’s project that interpreted the results of a semester-long mindfulness intervention on student mindfulness and spiritual attitudes and practices. The findings determined that participants had senses of mindfulness and self the emphasized themselves, and their external worlds, let weak connection with a higher spiritual entity. Significant differences were observed between early childhood and elementary majors.

Piloting an Eight-Session Attentional Skills Training (AST) Program for Elementary School Children: Incorporating Mindfulness Concepts and Video Gaming Activities

ABSTRACT This pilot study explored the impact of an eight-session attentional skills training (AST) program for elementary-age school children. Twenty-four students, 3rd through 6th grade, participated in guidance sessions involving exposure to mindfulness exercises and video gaming activities designed to challenge visual attention, memory, and decision-making in engaging and entertaining motivational contexts. Multivariate analyses revealed that students realized a 40–50% increase in their performance on two standardized measures of time sensitive visual decision-making search tasks at the end of the AST intervention, although there were no significant changes in student reports of their mindful attitudes and parent reports of their child’s cognitive functioning. This study adds to literature on the benefits of focused interventions on attentional skills that support executive functioning of children in classroom settings.

Speech and Language Therapy Service for Multilingual Children: Attitudes and Approaches across Four European Countries

Educational equality and the reduction of discrimination are among the UN’s Sustainability Goals. Previous studies as well as policy recommendations suggest that the extent to which these are implemented in the field of speech and language therapy for multilingual children depends on sufficient knowledge and material. To this end, an online survey was carried out with 300 Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) from Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, investigating their attitudes and approaches regarding the service provision for multilingual children. Their responses were analyzed taking the SLTs’ language background, experience, and country of origin into account. Results were interpreted in the context of country-specific SLT service-related policies and SLT training as well as migration history. There seems to be a gap between the SLTs’ knowledge about the specific requirements for providing Speech Language Therapy (SLT) for multilingual children and their common practice, which—despite the continuous need of further training—points to sufficient awareness but a lack of materials or resources. We found experience in working with multilingual children to be the most influential factor on attitudes and approaches towards multilingualism. This suggests the importance of improving pre-exam and early-career professional experience to foster SLTs’ development of mindful attitudes and appropriate approaches towards multilingualism in their clinical practice.

Transactional Analysis, Intuition, and Mindfulness: How We Can Learn to Think Martian

The authors reflect on the essence of cure and consider the relational caring and curing competencies at the core of the healing process. They focus on the practitioner rather than on the client and illustrate a group supervision in which a mindfulness exercise brings about a significant change of perspective and positions in the practitioners. The authors identify fruitful connections between Buddhist psychology and early transactional analysis in which Eric Berne stressed the importance of the therapist’s intuition and mental presence. The question for the “Martian” is how to say hello rightly. The authors consider if and how a mindful attitude might offer a possible answer. They then describe a mindfulness retreat as an opportunity to cultivate mental presence, stay with uncertainty, and develop compassion and self-care because they consider these capacities most relevant for fostering cure. Critical issues around mindfulness and psychotherapy are discussed.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Multicenter Study.

The prevalence of chronic pain in Spain is 15%. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on patients with chronic pain. A quasi-experimental design of repeated measures pre- and post-test (N = 57) was carried out at three hospitals from the province of Alicante. Self-reported assessment measurements of pain intensity, anxiety-depression symptoms, perception of health status, interference of pain on sleep, self-efficacy in pain, acceptance, and mindfulness attitude were included. The T-test indicates significant differences in intensity of present pain, mental quality of life, and depression (medium effect sizes), as well as in self-efficacy: total score, symptom management and pain control (medium effect sizes), sleep disturbances and quantity of sleep (large effect sizes). MBCT is effective in reducing many symptoms in patients with chronic pain, although its maintenance needs to be further investigated.

Philosophical Care

Abstract Using a case study, the essay explores the question of what Philosophical Care can contribute to the field of Spiritual Care. Conceptualising the personal and thus enabling a differentiated discussion is an important feature, which is complemented by a careful mindful attitude.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Interventions for Mood in Older Adults: How Do Qualitative Experiences Inform Clinical Response?

Older adulthood presents unique challenges to mental health. We explored how a mindfulness training intervention adapted for older adults addressed these challenges, contributing to a qualitative profile of mindfulness pedagogy for older adults. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was adapted for a geriatric community sample with elevated depressive symptoms. Intervention effects were examined through a combination of scale-based assessment and qualitative interviews. Scales measured depressive symptoms, cognitive function, quality of life, and mindful attitudes. Interviews assessed stressors, goals, perceived obstacles, outcomes, and practice habits. A grounded-theory approach was used to identify responses in each category. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify qualitative responses that best predicted symptom reduction. The program was well-tolerated, positively endorsed, and associated with reduced depressive symptoms. Qualitatively, participants who identified family and mood as their primary stressors benefitted the most from course participation. A focus on present moment awareness was associated with decreased depressive symptoms, whereas a focus on hedonics, i.e., “feeling good,” was associated with poorer treatment outcomes. Participants maintained strong future practice intentions and preferred guided meditations to self-directed practice. The adapted MBSR program was well-tolerated and efficacious in a geriatric community sample. Efficacy may be improved by emphasizing skill development outcomes rather than achievement of positive feeling states, and by prioritizing program referrals for coping with socioemotional rather than environmental stressors. Future research could extend this mixed-methods approach to deepen our understanding of the relationship between participants’ lived experiences and clinical outcomes.

A Grounded Theory on the Relation of Time Awareness and Perceived Valence

The subjective experience of time has many different facets. The present study focused on time awareness and its antipode timelessness as an expression of the extent one focuses on the passage of time. In an exploratory mixed-methods study, we investigated different extents of this time awareness and their relation to perceived valence of the environment, different states of consciousness, and strategies to cope with doing nothing. Thirty-three participants were tested for one hour or more with sitting and exploring as the within-subjects factor. For each condition, they stayed in one of two libraries characterized by their contemplative architecture. Then, participants answered quantitative questionnaires on their time experience and perceived valence and participated in a semi-structured interview. By means of grounded theory, we extracted four different types of time awareness from the qualitative data, of which three corresponded to the results of a cluster analysis on the dimensions of time awareness and perceived valence of the environment. In line with previous literature, we found relations between unpleasant high time awareness and boredom and pleasant low time awareness and flow. Additionally, the data revealed a pattern of high time awareness and positively perceived valence that was mainly experienced while sitting. Possible connections to states of consciousness such as relaxation, idleness, and a mindful attitude are outlined. Real-life settings, long durations, and level of activation are discussed as possible fostering factors for finding this pattern.

Eating Disorders among Female University Students and its' Relation with their Body Attitudes and Mindful Eating

Eating disorders are a major public health issue faced by female university students. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating often have a variety of irreversible and life threatening medical complications. Despite disordered eating attitudes and body image dissatisfaction are common among female college students, mindful eating makes a conscious food choices and eating healthfully. The aim of the study was to: Assess eating disorders among university female students and its relation to their body attitude and mindful eating behaviors. Study design: Correctional descriptive design. Settings: This study was conducted at two faculties affiliated to Tanta University that were chosen randomly. Subjects: A multistage randomized sample of 627 female students at the previous mentioned settings. Study tool: A structured questionnaire schedule was used to collect the necessary data. It consisted of four parts: Socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects, eating disorders scale (EDDS), body attitude test (BAT) and mindful eating questionnaire. Results: Nearly one quarter of the studied subjects had eating disorders while 30.9% of them were at risk of developing eating disorders. Binge eating disorder was the most frequent among the studied subjects, followed by bulimia nervosa while anorexia nervosa was of the least frequency. About one third of the study subjects had negative attitude toward their body, and 61.4% of them reported moderate level of mindfulness of eating behavior. Positive correlation was observed between eating disorders and negative body attitude, while negative correlation was found between eating disorders and mindfulness of eating behaviors of the study subjects. Conclusion ,recommendations: Female students who had poor mindful eating and negative body attitude are more prone to eating disorders. So, community mental health nurse should implement educational programs to modify unhealthy eating habits and correct body image distortion in female university students

Trait Mindfulness Moderates Reactivity to Social Stress in an All-Male Sample

Mindful attitudes and practices may help individuals respond to stressors in a more positive way. By limiting reactivity to stress, mindfulness may buffer people against its ill effects. In this study, we examined whether individual differences in trait mindfulness predict psychological and physiological responses to a laboratory stress induction. Trait mindfulness and stress reactivity were assessed using salivary cortisol and a subjective stress scale in a sample of young healthy males (N = 40) who underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Higher trait mindfulness was associated with lower subjective stress (r = − 0.41, p = 0.009) and cortisol stress reactivity (r = − 0.38, p = 0.017). In particular, men who are more proficient in describing their emotions had lower perceived stress to the TSST (r = − 0.42, p < 0.01). Psychological stress and cortisol response were also correlated. These findings replicate those in similar paradigms suggesting that mindfulness may protect individuals against the negative effects of stress. They also suggest that the relationship between mindfulness and stress reactivity is particular to male participants and may be modulated by affect labelling in this gender group.

Mindfulness attitude, emotions and forgiveness in adolescence: a correlational research

Mindfulness indicates a state of mind, connected with attention and awareness that can be developed and cultivated through meditation. The research hypothesis foresees that the mindfulness attitude significantly correlates with the psychological variables considered: anger, anxiety, depression and feelings towards oneself (self-hatred, inadequacy of the self and self-forgiveness). The aim of this research was to highlight the relationship between mindfulness attitude and previous constructions in a sample of italian teenagers. The sample includes 867 subjects, aged between 13 and 20, from the region of Lazio (Rieti and Rome). The participants compiled, under supervision, a battery of tests consisting of self-report questionnaires. To evaluate the psychological dimensions of our interest, we used four measures: CAMS-R, CDI, STAI-Y Trait, STAXI C/A, FSCRS. The study highlighted significantly a positive correlations between high mindfulness disposition and psychological well-being. Specifically, the study showed that adolescents with a high mindfulness disposition are less depressed, less anxious and angry and they have a higher ability to forgive themselves. The mindfulness attitude is a tendency that individuals can present to a greater or lesser extent, regardless of the practice of mindfulness. The data obtained from this study support the prospective for further investigations that could lead to improvements in terms of psychological well-being.

What is the evidence in evidence-based mindfulness programs for children?

The prevalence of "mindfulness" in popular media, academia, and professional circles is difficult to miss. Newspapers, magazines, online articles, clinical programs, podcasts, scholarly and professional meetings, sports organizations, and many other outlets focus on the benefits of mindfulness. Despite the intense focus on mindfulness in Western society, it is astonishing that the evidence base (i.e., documented, scholarly, peer-reviewed evaluations) for these programs is woefully inadequate. Varying definitions of what mindfulness is, what it entails, what specific benefits to psychological functioning are observed (if any), and inadequate scientific testing all contribute to a lean knowledge base. Evaluation of potential benefits of mindful practice with children is even more difficult because children are a more heterogeneous group than adults; the differing developmental levels are likely to have profound effects on the efficacy of mindfulness-based programming with children. We review these issues and provide an explanation of the strength of different kinds of evidence, with suggestions for (a) researchers who study mindfulness with children and (b) clinical professionals and educators interested in developing mindful attitudes and techniques with children.

Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness as Predictors of Individual Outcomes in Hospital Health Workers.

Research in organizational psychology emphasizes the idea that wellbeing and productivity outcomes are influenced both by individual differences (traits, values) and work environment characteristics (relationships, climate). Evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for stress is currently unclear. To date, research on psychological flexibility in workplaces has not been systematically conducted in Italy. We investigated its relevance in the context of the Italian health care system. In this study, the relationship between sources of stress at work and its outcomes in terms of psychological and physical health are explored. Furthermore, the moderating effect of psychological flexibility and mindfulness on psychological and physical health are investigated. Four hundred and eleven health workers from a Sicilian hospital, with different job positions were recruited, of which 42.7% were males (N = 169) and 57.3% were females (N = 227). Their ages ranged between 25 and 72 years (M = 49.16; SD = 8.65). Participants answered a questionnaire that assessed psychological flexibility, mindfulness, sources of stress at work and health benefits. In a bivariate analysis, managerial factors (MF), relationships, and intrinsic factors are partially negatively related to psychological and physical health; whereas, multivariate analyses show that psychological flexibility does not moderate the relationship between psychological and physical health. Instead, mindfulness is strongly and consistently correlated to psychological and physical health. Employees who show psychological flexibility, are more likely to show greater openness to the acceptance of setbacks in the working environment and to carry on their valued living and working path. This seems to correlate positively on individual wellbeing. Data show that a flexible and mindful attitude toward difficult psychological events aids responsiveness to changes and the ability to work more effectively.