Components Of Mindfulness Research Articles

The Predication of Marital Adjustment based on Mindfulness among Infertile Couples in Iran

Background: Infertility and its treatment cause psychological effects, such as confusion, frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and worthlessness in life. Mindfulness reduces negative emotions and increases people's adjustment when faced with stressful life tasks. Therefore, this study aims to predict marital adjustment based on mindfulness in infertile couples.
 Methods: The present descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 122 infertile couples referred to Mother and Child Hospital in Shiraz selected by convenience sampling method in summer of 2013. After obtaining consent form, demographic questionnaire, dyadic adjustment scale (DAS), and five facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed by SPSS 23 using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis (P=0.05).
 Results: Seventy-four couples had been married for less than five years and 48 couples had been married for more than five years with a mean age of 32±5 years. The results indicated that all mindfulness components except non-judgmental inner experience predict marital adjustment (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The results indicate that mindfulness technique is very effective and has positive influence on improving marital adjustment between infertile couples. Massive mental health education is recommended to educate the infertile couples and governmental and non-governmental agencies are required to help this group of people for effective prevention, treatment, and control of this problem. This treatment can affect marital adjustment in both groups of men and women.

Mindfulness Has Parallels to Indigenous Cultural Practices

Mindfulness Has Parallels to Indigenous Cultural Practices

The role of mindful acceptance and lucid dreaming in nightmare frequency and distress

A theoretical and empirical association between lucid dreaming and mindfulness, as well as lucid dreaming and nightmares has previously been observed; however, the relationship between nightmares and mindfulness has received surprisingly little attention. Here, we present the findings of two studies exploring the relation of nightmare frequency and distress with two components of mindfulness, termed presence and acceptance, as well as lucid dreaming. Study 1 (N = 338) consisted of a low percentage of frequent lucid dreamers whereas Study 2 (N = 187) consisted primarily of frequent lucid dreamers that used lucid dream induction training techniques and meditation. Across studies, nightmare-related variables showed a more robust association with mindful acceptance as opposed to mindful presence. Moreover, individuals with high levels of meditation expertise and practice of lucid dreaming induction techniques reported lower nightmare frequency. Finally, in Study 2, which consisted of frequent lucid dreamers, a positive correlation between lucid dreaming frequency and mindfulness was apparent. The present findings support the notion that wakeful mindfulness is associated with the quality of dreams and extend previous research by suggesting a disentangled role of the two facets of mindfulness in dream variation. This association remains open for experimental manipulation, the result of which could have clinical implications.

Comparative study of self-compassion and corona disease anxiety in adolescents receiving and not receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Introduction: The prevalence of COVID-19 has negative psychological consequences on adolescents. The current study aims to compare self-compassion and corona anxiety in adolescents receiving and not receiving Covid-19 vaccine. Methods: Based on the purpose of the research, a causal-comparative method was used. The study population included all male high school students in Kermanshah in 2021-2022, of which 384 students were selected as research sample using multi-step cluster sampling. The self-compassion questionnaire (Neff, 2003) and the anxiety of Corona questionnaire (Alipour et al, 2019) were used to collect data. Results: The results of data analysis using independent t-test showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups in terms of self-compassion and corona anxiety (p <0.01). Moreover, the results of independent t-test showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups for components of self-friendliness, common humanity, mindfulness and psychological symptoms of corona anxiety and physical symptoms of corona anxiety (p <0.01). Generally, the results showed that vaccinated individuals had significantly more self-compassion, self-friendliness, shared humanity, and mindfulness, and less corona anxiety and physical and psychological symptoms (p <0.01).

Nonjudgmental Regard of Others: Investigating the Links Between Other-Directed Trait Mindfulness and Prejudice.

Although researchers predict that experiencing greater trait mindfulness should be related to less prejudiced attitudes towards others, the evidence has been inconsistent. We suggest that this is due to the narrow operationalizations of mindfulness that have been utilized thus far. Specifically, research to date has relied solely on mindfulness as it pertains to the self. We therefore examined an expanded definition of mindfulness to study the role of nonjudgmental attitudes towards others and its relation with prejudice. Using a new measure of Nonjudgmental Regard towards Others (NRO), the current study found that Ideological Acceptance, or judgments of another's actions, ideas, and personality, and Emotion Acceptance, or acceptance of another's emotions and emotional expressions, were independently associated with prejudiced attitudes towards numerous different outgroups such as drug users, people who are overweight, homosexuals, and people with disabilities. Furthermore, they were able to explain variance over and above the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Social Dominance Orientation and Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Having a nonjudgmental regard towards others, not just the self, may be an important component of mindfulness that has not yet been explored.

Holistically embracing mindfulness: Enriching slow fashion for enhanced well-being

This research explores slow fashion in relation to its capacity to holistically embrace mindfulness in order to enrich the sustainable approach to fashion for enhanced well-being. Slow fashion seems to embrace a concept at the heart of mindfulness practice: awareness. Mindfulness is a state of awareness that involves accepting a clear focus on present realities. The emerging phenomenon of mindfulness is developing as a potential force for cultural change. The current predominant fashion system supports growth-focused, fast fashion, which has been destructive to environmental and human well-being. Existing scholarly discourse has identified the urgency for a significant cultural shift to alternative approaches, resulting in the emergence of a sustainable and ethical fashion space. Slow fashion, within this space, is considered through a lens of mindfulness as a conceptual framework for both practices within a fashion context. The research aims to examine key components of the two movements and discuss how the practices unite or vary and the implications of their union within the fashion system. A close examination revealed a further intertwined relationship, identifying select components of mindfulness that contradict elements of slow fashion and other components theoretically congruent with slow fashion criteria. Slow fashion has the capacity for a more conscious and holistic embrace involving the theory and practice of mindfulness. In doing so, an enriched slow fashion approach, encompassing design, production and consumption, would be enabled within the current fashion system to improve outcomes for the environment and human well-being amongst the wider community. Critically, an alignment between slowness and mindfulness intrinsically guides us towards a collective consciousness of each other, our interconnection with the environment and our internal and external realities, signifying strength in connecting interdisciplinary theories that unite in methods and mindsets that may allow thriving within natural limits.

The role of mindfulness and attachment security in facilitating resilience

BackgroundIn recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring ways to facilitate positive psychological dispositions, including resilience. The goal of the present study was to explore the possibility that trait mindfulness facilitates attachment security and thus enhances resilience.MethodsWe conducted two studies based on cross-sectional surveys. In Study 1, data of 207 students studying in Japan was collected. In Study 2, we used a different sample of 203 participants and different measurements to replicate the findings of Study 1.ResultsThe results of Study 1 revealed that mindfulness positively predicted resilience, while attachment anxiety and avoidance were mediators between mindfulness and resilience. The results of Study 2 showed that mindfulness positively predicted resilience, and the mediating effect of attachment avoidance was significant, but the mediating effect of attachment anxiety was not significant.ConclusionsIt is possible to facilitate attachment security through cultivating trait mindfulness, and in this way, resilience could be enhanced. The effect of different components of mindfulness on attachment and resilience requires further studies.

The Relationship between Acceptance and Sleep-Wake Quality before, during, and after the First Italian COVID-19 Lockdown.

Several studies have reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious effects on sleep quality and mood, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are not clearly understood. Recently, it has been shown that the acceptance component of mindfulness reduces anxiety, and, in turn, lower anxiety improves sleep quality. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess changes in mindfulness traits, sleep–wake quality, and general distress, before, during, and after the first COVID-19 wave, testing the model in which acceptance influences sleep through anxiety in each period. A total of 250 participants were recruited before (Pre-Lockdown group: 69 participants, 29 females, 33.04 ± 12.94 years), during (Lockdown group: 78 participants, 59 females, 29.174 ± 8.50 years), and after (After-Lockdown group: 103 participants, 86 females, 30.29 ± 9.46 years) the first Italian lockdown. In each group, self-report questionnaires, assessing mindfulness facets, distress, and sleep–wake quality, were administered and assessed. The Lockdown group reported lower acceptance and higher depression, while the After-Lockdown group reported lower sleep–wake quality and higher anxiety. The results of the path analysis confirmed that higher acceptance reduced anxiety and higher anxiety decreased sleep–wake quality in all groups. Our results confirm that acceptance influences sleep through the mediating role of anxiety.

Predicting Social Well-being According to Mindful-ness, Social Identity, and Spirituality in Students of University of Qom in the Academic Year of 2020-2021

Background and Objectives: The profound and vital impact of social relationships on mental health and improving people's lives has been proven. Therefore, the existence of a healthy social or social well-being e is an integral and accepted part of maintaining health, and there are some structures and factors that affect social well-being The aim of this study was to predict social well-being based on mindfulness, social identity and spirituality of Qom University students in the academic year 2020-21. Methods: The research design was correlational. The statistical population included students of Qom University who participated in the study by sampling method available to 357 people. In order to collect data, Keys Social Well-being Questionnaire, Freiburg Mindfulness Questionnaire, Jackins Social Identity Questionnaire, Saffarinia and Parsian and Doing Spirituality Questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 26 and Pearson correlation test and multiple linear regression. Results: The results of regression showed that among the components of mindfulness, acceptance alone explains 16.81% of the variance of social Well-being And among the components of social identity, individual identity and social identity alone are capable, respectively, 13.54% and 6.30% explained the variance of social Well-being. Among the components of spirituality, self-awareness and spiritual activities alone are able to explain 12.53% and 2.46% of the variance of social Well-being , respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of mindfulness skills training, strengthening social identity and spirituality-oriented programs, increase the level of social well-being of students.

Mindfulness Treatments for Domestic Violence: A Review

ABSTRACT Despite high costs of domestic violence (DV) to survivors and witnesses, widely used treatments do not consistently reduce violence perpetration. Although research has only begun to examine third wave treatments targeting DV, components such as mindfulness demonstrate preliminary support for reducing underlying symptomatology, including trauma symptoms, personality disorder features, emotion dysregulation, and substance use. This paper provides a brief review of mindfulness interventions for individuals referred for DV treatment, with a focus on the population most often referred for DV treatment – cisgender heterosexual men. Databases were searched for studies of adults in therapies that targeted DV and included component of mindfulness and skills training. Six studies of five treatments targeting DV met criteria for inclusion. Preliminary results support potential utility of DV treatments that incorporate mindfulness – with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy interventions currently having the most evidence. Common elements of the treatments included a focus on clients’ individual values; motivation/engagement strategies; addressing avoidance of emotions; managing urges/impulses; understanding relationships between cognitions, emotions, and behaviors; and reinforcement of adaptive behaviors. Despite the early stages of the literature, the largely positive results of the mindfulness treatments examined in this review suggest an initial foundation for further research.

Construction and evaluation of a mindfulness-based quality of life and well-being program (MQW) in a randomized trial

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.

Art therapists’ fear of COVID-19, subjective well-being, and mindfulness

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit face-to-face service fields, including art therapy. The present study examined changes in Korean art therapists’ subjective well-being between the pre- and during pandemic periods. We also investigated whether the fear of COVID-19 affected art therapists’ subjective well-being and verified the mediating effect of mindfulness on the relationship between COVID-19 fear and subjective well-being. We used the existing data of 203 Korean art therapists’ subjective well-being, and recruited 132 new participants. The participants were Korean art therapists and art therapy students who completed a subjective well-being questionnaire, a Fear of COVID-19 scale, and a mindfulness questionnaire. The results indicated lower levels of subjective well-being during the COVID-19 period than pre-pandemic. Furthermore, we confirmed that the fear of COVID-19 lowered subjective well-being, with mindfulness mediating the relationship. This study discusses core components of mindfulness, decentering, and embodiment as attributes shared with art therapy. Our results highlight the importance of dispositional mindfulness to foster subjective well-being during the pandemic.

Effects of Decentering and Non-judgement on Body Dissatisfaction and Negative Affect Among Young Adult Women

ObjectivesMindfulness-based interventions have shown effectiveness in reducing risk factors for disordered eating; however, little is known about mechanisms. This online study evaluated two isolated metacognitive components of mindfulness, adopting a decentered or non-judgemental stance towards internal experiences, respectively, for reducing body dissatisfaction and negative affect.MethodsWomen (N = 330, Mage = 25.18, SD = 4.44) viewed appearance-ideal media images before listening to a 5-min audio recording that guided them to (a) distance themselves from their experience (decentering), (b) accept their experience without judgement (non-judgement), or (c) rest (active control). Participants reported state body dissatisfaction and negative affect at baseline, post-media exposure, and final assessment. Trait measurements (weight and shape concerns, mindfulness, emotion regulation) were assessed as potential moderators. Participants self-reported engagement and acceptability.ResultsAll groups reported significant reductions in body dissatisfaction and negative affect following the recording (d = 0.15–0.38, p < 0.001), with no between-group differences. Trait measurements did not moderate effects.ConclusionsThe results suggest rest was as effective as the metacognitive components in ameliorating immediate negative impacts of appearance-related threats. Alternatively, coping strategies spontaneously adopted by the control group may have supplied temporary relief. Findings highlight the importance of including suitable control; further research should investigate when and for whom specific aspects of mindfulness-based interventions may be particularly helpful.

Mindfulness, relationship quality, and conflict resolution strategies used by partners in close relationships.

Mindfulness is a specific state of attention which involves a constant focus on what is happening at the present time in a way that is neither judgmental nor evaluative. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of mindfulness for relationship quality and conflict resolution strategies in close relationships. Five components of mindfulness were examined: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity. The study included 153 participants (79 women, 74 men; aged 19-60 years). 39.2% of the respondents were married, 20.9% were engaged, 39.9 were in romantic relationships. The mean duration of the close relationship was 6.25 years. The following measures were used: the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Patterns of Problem Solving Questionnaire, and the Dyadic Adaptation Scale. Acting with awareness, dialogue and avoiding conflict escalation strategy were predictors of relationship quality. The relationship status (marriage and engagement) was also a predictor of relationship quality. Gender, age, and duration of the relationship were not predictors of relationship quality. The results showed correlation between mindfulness and relationship quality (r = .28). There was a positive correlation between nonjudging and satisfaction in the relationship and between describing and emotional expression. Also, there was a negative correlation between nonreactivity and compatibility. Mindfulness was positively correlated with dialogue and negatively correlated with escalation of and withdrawal from a conflict. Mindfulness is important to the relationship's quality and conflict resolution strategies. Among the components of mindfulness, especially acting with awareness is important to relationship quality.

Mindfulness-Informed Guided Imagery to Target Physical Activity: A Mixed Method Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study.

Physical activity offers substantial mind-body health benefits and reduced mortality, yet many individuals are chronically underactive. Physical activity interventions may benefit from integrative approaches that join components of mindfulness and neurobiological models of behavior. Mindfulness increases one’s awareness of cognitions and physical sensations to potentially facilitate self-regulation, while neurobiological models such as the dual system model of health behavior offer guidance on improving physical activity intervention targets. This 2-phase study includes an initial development process to create brief (∼4 min) mindfulness informed guided imagery audio files that target distinct cognitive and affective processes to promote physical activity. In the second phase, participants completed a 2-week pilot intervention study to gather qualitative and quantitative data on intervention feasibility and acceptability. Participants endorsed the mindfulness informed guided imagery as easy to use, enjoyable and helpful. Over a 2-week intervention period participants reported positive shifts in behavior change, physical activity enjoyment, increased mindfulness during physical activity, and increased physical exercise self-efficacy and satisfaction. Interview data revealed that participants increased their frequency of physical activity and tended to experience positive affect during physical activity, engaged in future oriented thinking and were able to view physical activity in a more positive light. Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of an integrative online mindfulness informed guided imagery intervention to promote physical activity enjoyment and engagement. This study extends health behavior change intervention research and provides supporting evidence for a flexible and tailorable online mindfulness-based intervention.

Clarifying the relationship between trait mindfulness and objective performance

The present study focused on the relationship between trait mindfulness and the outcome component of performance, evaluated with objective indicators. In particular, four objective performance indicators were studied: accuracy, reaction time, variability in reaction times, and detection of unexpected stimuli. Because attention and awareness have been described as core components of mindfulness, and previous research suggests that mindfulness is associated with improved attention skills, this study predicted that trait mindfulness would be positively related to objective indicators of high performance (accuracy, detection of unexpected stimuli) and negatively related to objective indicators of low performance (reaction time, variability in reaction time), on an attention task. Moreover, the study predicted that the relationship between trait mindfulness and objective performance would be modulated by task complexity. University students (139) completed mindfulness, intelligence, and personality questionnaires and completed an adapted Stroop task (Stroop, 1935) in E-prime 2 software. To test our hypotheses, we performed hierarchical multiple regression analyses in SPSS. Our results revealed that trait mindfulness is not related to objective indicators of performance in an attention task, except for the detection of unexpected stimuli. Going further with our analyses, we also confirmed the important role of intelligence in performance outcomes. Finally, task complexity was not playing a moderator role in the relationship between mindfulness and objective performance. Our research contributes to the literature on mindfulness and objective performance, providing empirical evidence for the relationship between trait mindfulness and the detection of unexpected stimuli. Study limitations and avenues for future research are discussed.

Accept Anxiety to Improve Sleep: The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Relationships between Mindfulness, Distress, and Sleep Quality

It has been recently proposed that mindfulness can improve sleep quality through the mediating role on psychological distress and that acceptance may play a pivotal role in mindfulness beneficial effects. The aim of the present work was to understand the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on dispositional mindfulness, sleep, and distress, and on their relationships. In particular, we wanted to test the hypothesis that the detrimental effects of lockdown on sleep depended on mindfulness and distress (including anxiety and depression) and that the acceptance facet of mindfulness played the leading role. A longitudinal study based on self-report questionnaires was conducted on 39 Italian adults (M age = 35.03, SD = 14.02; 21 men) assessing mindfulness, distress, and sleep quality before (23 December 2019–8 March 2020) and during (27 April 2020–10 May 2020) the first Italian COVID-19 lockdown. Lockdown decreased mindfulness while increasing distress and sleep problems. Path analysis showed that the effects of lockdown on sleep were fully mediated by mindfulness and distress. Furthermore, a more detailed analysis showed that these effects were mainly dependent on the acceptance component of mindfulness working through anxiety. The present study confirms, in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown, a model according to which mindfulness, and specifically acceptance, influences sleep through the mediating role of distress.

Effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness for clinically-diagnosed anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness techniques have attracted considerable attention given the demonstrated mental health benefits of mindfulness and the availability of scalable opportunities for increased therapeutic use. However, comparatively little is known about the effectiveness of these types of interventions when they are delivered to clinician-diagnosed populations receiving psychiatric treatment. Aims This review evaluates therapeutic interventions that included a mindfulness component aimed at reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in clinician-diagnosed samples. Methods Randomized control trials (RCTs) published between January 1990 to September 2020 assessing the effects of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include a mindfulness component were searched across five databases (Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science). Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria with sample sizes ranging from 37 to 84 per study. Findings revealed an overall statistically significant moderate between-group difference at post-intervention for depression (Hedges’ g = −0.47) and anxiety (Hedges’ g = −0.40) outcomes favoring the online treatment groups. Further analyses revealed larger effect sizes among RCTs employing waitlist control (WLC) comparisons, and reductions in depression symptoms within the intervention groups to be above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for BDI-II. Conclusions Findings from this meta-analytic review provide preliminary support for including mindfulness practices within existing therapeutic programs to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in clinician-diagnosed populations. Research implications and priorities for online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral programming are discussed.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Adapted Protocol.

Background: The psychological effects of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are tremendous. This pilot mixed-methods randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) adapted protocol on psychological distress among SLE patients. Methods: 26 SLE patients were randomly assigned to MBSR group therapy (n = 15) or a waitlist (WL) group (n = 11). An adapted MBSR protocol for SLE was employed. Three measurements were conducted: pre-intervention, post-intervention and 6-months follow up. A sub-sample (n = 12) also underwent qualitative interviews to assess their subjective experience of MBSR. Results: Compared to the WL, the MBSR group showed greater improvements in quality of life, psychological inflexibility in pain and SLE-related shame. Analysis among MBSR participants showed additional improvements in SLE symptoms and illness perception. Improvements in psychological inflexibility in pain and SLE-related shame remained stable over six months, and depression levels declined steadily from pre-treatment to follow-up. Qualitative analysis showed improvements in mindfulness components (e.g., less impulsivity, higher acceptance), as well as reduced stress following MBSR. Conclusions: These results reveal the significant therapeutic potential of MBSR for SLE patients. With its emphasis on acceptance of negative physical and emotional states, mindfulness practice is a promising treatment option for SLE, which needs to be further applied and studied.

Exploring the Multidimensional Links Between Trait Mindfulness and Trait Empathy.

Empathy and mindfulness are currently major topics of scientific interest. Although it is well-known that mindfulness—typically as an outcome related to meditation—generates empathy at the state level, only a small number of studies have documented the trait (i.e., personality) level association between mindfulness and empathy. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms (subcomponents and mediator variables) that support this association remain unclear. Thus, here, with a focus on the trait level, we investigated relationships among multiple subcomponents of trait mindfulness and trait empathy (Study 1). Next, we reexamined the aforementioned relationships in an independent sample, with the further aim of investigating relevant mediation factors (Study 2). We found that two attention-related components of trait mindfulness—observing and acting with awareness—reliably and positively related to both affective and cognitive dimensions of trait empathy (i.e., empathic concern and perspective taking). Furthermore, we found that effortful control, reappraisal, and trait alexithymia mediated relationships between the aforementioned attention-related components of trait mindfulness and empathic concern. Taken together, our results suggest that the links between mindfulness and empathy are multidimensional and complex. These findings may ultimately contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of meditation on empathy.