Mindfulness Scores Research Articles

Mindfulness Training Improves Attention: Evidence from Behavioral and Event-related Potential Analyses.

Mindfulness meditation helps to improve attentional capacity. However, the neural correlates that indicate the mechanism through which mindfulness improves attention are unclear. To address this gap, we aimed to assess the effects of mindfulness training on sustained attentional capacity. Event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with the modified sustained attention response task (mSART) were used in this study. A total of 45 college students were randomly assigned to either the mindfulness group (n = 21) or the control group (n = 24). Participants in the mindfulness group received a three-week mindfulness training. The self-report results showed that the mindfulness group reported higher mindfulness scores (observing and non-judgment of inner experiences) after the training. The mindfulness group also scored lower on the state anxiety than the control group. Behavioral results also showed that self-caught mind wandering in the mindfulness group significantly decreased after the training, and the mindfulness group showed a faster response after the training. The ERP results showed that N2 amplitudes in the post-test were significantly greater than those in the pre-test in the mindfulness group. We did not find any interactions between group and time for P3. The findings suggest that mindfulness training can effectively improve sustained attentional capacity, as indicated by reduced mind wandering and increased N2 responses.

The Moderation Effects of Self-Construal Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Interpersonal Forgiveness.

Previous studies found an association between mindfulness and forgiveness. However, the effects of self-construal on this association are still unclear. In the present study, self-reported forgiveness and a behavioral measure of forgiveness were used to explore the moderating effect of self-construal plays between mindfulness and forgiveness among 126 participants recruited based on their mindfulness scores. Results showed that participants with high level of mindfulness in the interdependent self-construal condition reported greater forgiveness and gave more money donations towards transgressors than those in the independent self-construal condition, while there is no significant difference between interdependent and independent self-construal groups among participants with low level of mindfulness. These findings suggest that self-construal moderates the relationship between mindfulness and interpersonal forgiveness.

Are Mindfulness and Mind-Wandering Opposite Constructs? It Depends on How Mindfulness is Conceptualised.

This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, and non-judging correlate negatively with self-reported and indirect markers of mind-wandering. The 552 participants of the study completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of trait mindfulness and mind-wandering scales. They also completed the computer-based Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), an objective measure of mind-wandering. The total mindfulness score and acceptance and non-judging subscale scores were strongly negatively correlated with both self-reported trait mind-wandering (TMW) and SART indices of mind-wandering. In contrast, attention was significantly positively correlated with both. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness conceptualised as a multi-component construct, but not a uni-component one, is probably an opposing construct to trait mind-wandering. Furthermore, mindfulness and its components, acceptance and non-judging, are associated with a reduction in the more common form of SART errors. However, only the acceptance component made a unique contribution to the variance in TMW and SART performance. Therefore, it is advisable for researchers to specify whether they investigated mindfulness as a uni-component or multi-component construct. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if future research investigates the relationship of mindfulness and its components with mind-wandering further by also incorporating a measure of state mindfulness.

Effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based interventions on perceived anxiety and depression of physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post experimental study.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) created unprecedented stress on physicians. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on being fully present, aware of senses, and emotions in the present moment without analyzing or judging them, and it may help reduce psychological distress in physicians. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on physicians' perceived anxiety and depression and different facets of mindfulness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online survey was administered to physicians to assess depression, anxiety, and awareness using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Five-Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), respectively. Physicians that received the virtual MBI sessions also completed post-questionnaires at a 3-week follow-up time point. A total of 125 physicians responded to the online survey, with 56 completing the MBI. The prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety and depression was 45.0 and 46.7%, respectively. Mindfulness scores were negatively associated with depression (r = -0.38, P < 0.001) and anxiety (r = -0.36, p < 0.001). Mindfulness scores for the 56 physicians who received virtual MBI sessions were significantly improved (mean difference ± SD, 17.7 ± 16.1, p = 0.001). Significant reductions were also evidenced in anxiety (4.4 ± 4.2) and depression (4.5 ± 5.1) scores (p's < 0.001). There was also an improvement in mindfulness facets of observing (5.1 ± 4.7), describing (2.3 ± 4.3), acting with awareness (2.7 ± 5.3), non-judging of inner experience (3.6 ± 6.1), and non-reactivity to inner experience (3.9 ± 4.0) (p's < 0.001). A facet of mindfulness, acting with awareness was most efficiently associated with improved anxiety (B = -0.3, p = 0.02) and depression (B = -0.4, p = 0.01). This study has demonstrated that virtual MBI improved physicians' psychological wellbeing and mindfulness during the crisis. Regular mindfulness practice may help physicians to tolerate and handle unpleasant circumstances, such as future epidemics or pandemics.

The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness in menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are psychological interventions widely used in menopausal women. Currently, there is no evidence summary on the effectiveness of MBIs on anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness in menopausal women. This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of MBIs in improving anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness scores in menopausal women. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and Wanfang, using relevant terms such as MBIs as keywords and covering all studies published before March 13, 2022. The outcomes were anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness. The screening and extraction of data were conducted by two independent reviewers. A total of 1,138 menopausal women participated in 13 studies. Meta-analysis results showed that MBIs significantly reduced stress in menopausal women (SMD = -0.84, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.05, p = 0.04), but no statistical differences were found in reducing anxiety (SMD = -0.40, 95% CI: -0.81 to 0.01, p = 0.06) and depression (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.07, p = 0.16) and in raising the scores of mindfulness (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.81, p = 0.09) in menopausal women. MBIs may reduce stress in menopausal women, but their effect on improving anxiety, depression, and mindfulness needs further validation. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails.

Вклад диспозициональной осознанности в сопротивление острому и хроническому стрессу у медицинского персонала в период пандемии COVID’19

Background. In extreme conditions the quality of work tasks performed by professionals depends on their ability to control their own states. One of these control instruments is mindfulness. Ye pandemic has created a unique opportunity to explore the potential of mindfulness in preventing the stressful states in healthcare workers. Objective of this study was to identify the contribution of trait mindfulness as a self-regulating ability to the overall level and manifestations of acute and chronic stress. Sample. Ye study involved 66 employees of one of the Moscow medical centers that was converted to provide care for patients with COVID-19. Methods. Ye respondents Zlled in on-line questionnaires, aimed to assess the severity of acute and chronic stress manifestations (by A. Leonova), as well as the general level and facets of trait mindfulness (FFMQ). Results. Low and medium degree of acute and chronic stress severity in specialists working with COVID-patients was revealed. SigniZcant negative correlations were established between indicators of acute (r = –0.423; p &lt; 0.01) and chronic stress (r = –0,581; p &lt; 0,01) with a composite score of trait mindfulness. Regression analysis revealed the counteracting contribution of individual components of mindfulness to the severity of acute and chronic stress. Conclusion. Ye trait mindfulness puts barriers to the acute and chronic stress. Yerefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the development of this personality trait to prevent the occurrence of negative states in medical professionals.

The effectiveness of mindful hypnotherapy on difficulties in emotion regulation, mindfulness, and mental health in patients with major depressive disorder.

More than 300 million people are affected by major depressive disorder, and despite advances in treatments over the past 50 years, this number is increasing worldwide. Due to the high prevalence and increasing numbers, along with problems in various aspects of the patient's life, new effective treatments are essential in this field. This study was a single-blinded randomized clinical trial. Thirty-four patients with major depressive disorder who were referred by clinical psychologists in the clinical psychology clinic of the Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to the intervention and wait-list control groups. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form were administered during the baseline and post treatment. Analyses of covariance and the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure were performed to determine the difference between study groups. The results of the analysis of covariance and repeated measures ANOVA showed a clinically significant decrease in difficulties in emotion regulation and a significant increase in mindfulness and mental health in the intervention group (P < 0.001). The mean score (standard deviation) of the difficulties in emotion regulation scores was 123.75 (21.10) in the experimental group at baseline and significantly decreased to 76.19 (26.45) and 68.00 (22.83) after the intervention and two-month follow-up, respectively (P < 0.001). Additionally, the mean scores (standard deviation) for mindfulness and mental health were 93.06 (8.23) and 19.63 (7.92), respectively, at baseline and significantly increased to 149.43 (16.99) and 51.62 (9.78), respectively, after the intervention and to 144.18 (20.55) and 48.50 (13.52) after a two-month follow-up (P < 0.001). The results show that mindful hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for improving difficulties in emotion regulation, mindfulness, and mental health in patients with major depressive disorder.

Trait mindfulness and sleep: Interactions between observing and nonreactivity in the association with sleep health.

The current study investigated the associations between trait mindfulness and sleep health and examined the interactions between theoretically related mindfulness subscales. Participants (n = 162, Mage = 19.93) reported trait levels of mindfulness and sleep was assessed using questionnaires and actigraphy. Higher mindfulness scores in awareness, nonreactivity, and nonjudgment were associated with better sleep health. The associations between observing and sleep health were moderated by nonreactivity. Results indicate that observing is associated with better sleep health at higher levels of nonreactivity and worse sleep health at lower levels, helping to explain the often-contradictory findings between observing and health outcomes.

“Staying in the present moment is important”: Examining the impact of a short-term classroom-based mindfulness intervention among first-year students

Objective: To determine the impact of four classroom-based sessions on mindfulness and symptoms of psychological distress among first-year students. A secondary objective was to explore participants’ involvement experiences. Participants: First-year undergraduate students at a Canadian university were recruited. Methods: A mixed-methods pre-experimental design with repeated measures was used. The mindfulness intervention involved four, 15-minute sessions delivered by a counselor from the university’s Student Health and Wellness center. Results: A significant positive change to participants’ mindfulness scores from pre- to post-intervention was observed. Qualitatively, themes relating to intervention benefits, challenges, and logistics emerged. Conclusions: Collectively, results supported the utility of this brief mindfulness intervention delivered to first-year students. Participants were appreciative of the techniques learned and the “in-class” delivery format. Given the pressures faced by post-secondary students, collaborating with student wellness centers in this way may represent a novel and efficient approach for attenuating health risks while promoting their personal wellness.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Gray Matter Volume in Patients with Opioid Dependence

Introduction: Recently, several mindfulness-based programs showed promising clinical effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders. However, very little is known about the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on brain structure in such patients. Methods: This study aimed to detect changes in gray matter volume (GMV) in opioid-dependent patients receiving MBI during their first month of treatment. Thirty patients were assigned to either 3 weeks of MBI (n = 16) or treatment as usual (TAU, n = 14) and were investigated using structural magnetic resonance imaging before and after treatment. Longitudinal pipeline of the Computational Anatomy Toolbox for SPM (CAT12) was used to detect significant treatment-related changes over time. The identified GMV changes following treatment were related to clinically relevant measures such as impulsivity, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. Results: After treatment, increased mindfulness scores were found in individuals receiving MBI compared to TAU. In the MBI group, there were also significant differences with respect to distress tolerance and impulsivity. Effects on mindfulness, distress tolerance, and impulsivity were also found in the TAU group. Longitudinal within-group analysis revealed increased left anterior insula GMV in individuals receiving MBI. Anterior insula volume increase was associated with decreased impulsivity levels. In the TAU group, significant GMV changes were found in the right lingual gyrus and right entorhinal cortex. Discussion/Conclusion: MBI can yield significant clinical effects during early abstinence from opioid dependence. MBI is particularly associated with increased insula GMV, supporting an important role of this region in the context of MBI-induced neural changes.

Effects of Yoga Intervention on Functional Movement Patterns and Mindfulness in Collegiate Athletes: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

High-quality movement patterns and high levels of mindfulness are thought to be beneficial in preventing sports injuries. Yoga is recommended in the field of athlete rehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of yoga intervention on functional movement patterns and mindfulness in collegiate athletes. It is a quasi-experimental study with a pre/post-test control design. The participants were divided into a yoga group and a control group. A Functional Movement Screen and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale were used to assess participants' basic movement patterns and mindfulness before and after 12 weeks of yoga intervention (two classes per week, 90 min per class). The results show that the yoga group's FMS scores improved more compared to the control group [F(1,78) = 29.08, p &lt; 0.001, ŋp2 = 0.27], and that the scores for the deep squat (ŋp2 = 0.4), shoulder mobility (ŋp2 = 0.17), and trunk stability pushup (ŋp2 = 0.36) improved substantially. The dysfunctional score ratio for deep squats (χ2 = 18.57, p &lt; 0.001), shoulder mobility (χ2 = 26.90, p &lt; 0.001), trunk stability pushup (χ2 = 17.07, p &lt; 0.001), and rotatory stability (χ2= 38.29, p &lt;0.001) decreased significantly compared with the control group, but there was no significant improvement in asymmetric movement patterns (χ2 = 0.75, p = 0.39). The mindfulness scores in the yoga group significantly exceeded those of the control group [F(1,78) = 13.56, p &lt; 0.001, ŋp2 = 0.15]. These results suggest that yoga intervention can improve functional movement patterns and mindfulness levels, but further evidence is needed to determine whether yoga could positively influence sports injuries.

Self-compassion training in palliative care during COVID-19: A pilot study.

This pilot project replicated a self-compassion program to support health-care professionals in palliative care settings. We anticipated that undertaking this program would enhance participants' psychological well-being. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling from palliative care services in an area of Melbourne, Australia. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was offered online and comprised six once-weekly gatherings. Three survey rounds with identical questions were conducted prior to, immediately after, and 3 months after the training. The surveys consisted of 6 scales: the Self-Compassion Scale, the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale, the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Scale. Paired-sample t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance analyses were used to compare participant responses. Nine participants working in palliative care completed the training and 3 surveys and included qualitative responses. The experience was overwhelmingly positive. Self-compassion (F=14.44; p<0.05) and mindfulness (F=18.44; p<0.05) scores significantly increased post-training, were picked up in a short time and endured. The emotional state improved by compassion satisfaction, showing a positive improvement 3 months post-training, along with there being no changes in compassion satisfaction, burnout, and dispositional empathy. Participants all worked in a supportive environment, which encouraged self-care. Even against the pandemic difficulties, a short online program was effective, assisting participants to cultivate their inner resources in mindfulness and self-compassion. While a small sample size, expansion of the training may benefit the wider palliative care workforce.

The association of mindfulness and psychological well-being among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn the global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have commonly occurred among COVID-19 patients, whose experiences of infection and subsequent treatment might develop negative consequences on their mental well-being even after recovery. Despite the general recognition of efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing psychological distress among various populations, there were insufficient studies on the relationship between mindfulness and mental health among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. ObjectiveThe current study aims to identify the prevalence of common mental health challenges among recovered COVID-19 patients in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China and to explore the potential mechanism through which mindfulness alleviate depression and PTSD. MethodsA cross-sectional survey on mental health was conducted among a convenience sample of adults recovered from COVID-19 in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China. The study participants completed questionnaires under the assistance of trained investigators. The questionnaire included Chinese version of Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Resilience Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure mindfulness, anxiety, resilience, PTSD, and depression respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between mindfulness and mental health outcomes of this population. Results1541 respondents (654 [42.4 %] men and 887 [57.6 %] women) completed the questionnaire between June 10 and July 25, 2021, of whom 36.2 % and 27.1 % had mild and severe levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively, and 15.2 % was indicated with PTSD. The average score of mindfulness of the study participants was (3.100 ± 0.387), and that of resilience was (3.560 ± 0.877). The structural equation model fit the data well, demonstrating that mindfulness was negatively associated with depressive symptoms directly (β = −0.031, P = 0.021) or indirectly through the mediation effect of resilience (β = −0.019, P = 0.009) and anxiety symptoms (β = −0.208, P < 0.001), and was negatively associated with PTSD through the mediation effect of anxiety symptoms (β = −0.142, P < 0.001). ConclusionIndividuals who have recovered from COVID-19 commonly experienced psychological distress. Mindfulness is associated with alleviation of depressive and PTSD symptoms directly or indirectly. Interventions based on mindfulness are suggested to improve the mental well-being of this population.

Probing the posture with machine learning provides physiological evidence supporting the enhanced body awareness hypothesis in trait mindfulness.

Enhanced body awareness has been suggested as one of the cognitive mechanisms that characterize mindfulness. Yet neuroscience literature still lacks strong empirical evidence to support this claim. Body awareness contributes to postural control during quiet standing; in particular, it may be argued that body awareness is more strongly engaged when standing quietly with eyes closed, because only body cues are available, than with eyes open. Under these theoretical assumptions, we recorded the postural signals of 156 healthy participants during quiet standing in Eyes closed (EC) and Eyes open (EO) conditions. In addition, each participant completed the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, and his/her mindfulness score was computed. Following a well-established machine learning methodology, we designed two numerical models per condition: one regression model intended to estimate the mindfulness score of each participant from his/her postural signals, and one classifier intended to assign each participant to one of the classes “Mindful” or “Non-mindful.” We show that the two models designed from EC data are much more successful in their regression and classification tasks than the two models designed from EO data. We argue that these findings provide the first physiological evidence that contributes to support the enhanced body awareness hypothesis in mindfulness.

Promoting Mindfulness And Resilience Through Web-based Weactive And Wemindful Interventions During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an aerobic-resistance training exercise intervention (WeActive) and a mindful yoga exercise intervention (WeMindful) in improving mindfulness and resilience among college students. Methods: 74 students from a major public university participated in either the WeMindful group or WeActive group. WeActive participants engaged in two 30-minute Zoom-based aerobic-resistance training sessions per week, while WeMindful participants engaged in two 30-minute Zoom-based mindful yoga exercise sessions per week over the course of eight weeks. Before and after the 8-week interventions, the participants completed the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) through Qualtrics. The FFMQ-15 has five subscales: Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, Non-Judging of inner experience, and Non-Reactivity to inner experience. Results: Regarding mindfulness, ANOVA repeated measures yielded a significant main effect of time for the total mindfulness score (F = 5.177, p < .05, η2 = .070), Acting with Awareness (F = 7.321, p < .05, η2 = .096), and Non-Judging of Inner Experience (F = 5.467, p < .05, η2 = .073). These results indicated that both groups experienced an increase in total mindfulness, Acting with Awareness, and Non-Judging of Inner Experience. No significant main effect of group or interaction effect of group with time were observed for any sub-scale or the total scale of mindfulness, indicating no differences between the groups at any time point. Regarding resilience, no significant main effects of time and group, and no significant interaction effects of time with group were observed for resilience. Conclusion: Both aerobic-resistance training and mindful yoga exercise are effective in increasing mindfulness, especially the acting with awareness and non-judging of inner experience in college students. This study shows that universities may benefit from adopting a web-based method to promote mindfulness as they seek to improve the mental health of college students.

The Role of Trait Mindfulness in Aggressive Driving Behavior

Aggressive driving behavior is regarded as a social dysfunction that poses a major risk to traffic safety. Previous research has indicated trait mindfulness as a protective factor for maladaptive thoughts and driver anger. The current study was designed to examine the mediating role of trait driver aggressiveness on the relationship between trait mindfulness and propensity for aggressive driving behavior. A sample of 122 drivers responded to a series of online questionnaires that assessed trait mindfulness, trait driver aggressiveness, and propensity for aggressive driving behavior. Results indicated that trait mindfulness was a significant predictor of trait driver aggressiveness. Similarly, trait mindfulness had also a moderating effect on the relationship between propensity for aggressive driving and trait driver aggressiveness. This indicated that those with higher trait mindfulness scores and lower trait driver aggressiveness scores were less likely to engage in aggressive driving behavior. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and directions for future research are presented.

Effect of Strength-Based Resilience on Patient's Length of Stay at the Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders.

Objective:Throughout past decades, physicians have sought to understand factors that contribute to severity of an eating disorder (ED). There is a potential relationship between patients' resilience and the recovery course of their disorder. The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between resilience, measured by indicators of mindfulness and restraint, and length of stay (LOS) at Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders.Materials and Methods:Data were obtained from Renfrew's database. Secondary analysis was conducted from this database. The database included women aged 13–75 years admitted to Renfrew. The database excluded males and individuals of ages <13 or >75 years old. Resilience was analyzed through Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ) and ED restraint. The dependent variable, LOS at Renfrew, was analyzed by multivariable linear regression, and multivariable logistic regression for LOS >45 days.Results:A sample of 2901 subjects was analyzed. There were significant associations between increased mindfulness scores and decreased restraint scores and a decreased LOS at Renfrew. For every 13-point increase in SMQ, the LOS was associated with a decrease by ∼1 day, and for every 1-point decrease in the restraint score (increased restraint), the LOS was associated with a decrease by ∼1 day. Higher restraint scores were independently associated with an increase in likelihood of LOS >45 days by 22.8%.Conclusions:The Renfrew data support the relationship between a patient's resilience and LOS. This information holds promise for future treatment approaches to improve strength-based modalities in patients suffering from EDs.

Influences of Mindfulness and Resilience on Nursing College Students Psychological Well-being

Purpose: The aim of this research was to identify the relationships between mindfulness, resilience and psychological well-being among nursing college students as well as the factors influencing their psychological well-being. Methods: Participants were, 186 nursing college students recruited from three universities located in two provinces of Korea. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires. Collected data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Participants’ scores for mindfulness, resilience, and psychological well-being were 3.27±0.78, 3.43±0.72, and 3.54±0.61, respectively. The results show that the higher the score for mindfulness (r=.30, p<.001) and resilience (r=.66, p<.001), the higher the score for psychological well-being. The most important factor influencing psychological well-being was resilience (=.59, p<.001), followed by gender (=−.18, p=.001), mindfulness (=.13, p=.024), in that order. These factors explained 48.8% of total psychological well-being (F=26.15, p <.001). Conclusion: It appears necessary to develop a systematic psychological well-being program in order to improve mindful- ness and resilience.

PROJETO PILOTO – PROGRAMA DE 8 SEMANAS DE MINDFULNESS PARA UNIVERSITÁRIOS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Mindfulness practice applied in an 8-week program in university students. METHODS: An intervention study was carried out, with a convenience sample and voluntary participation of students, enrolled for an 8-week program of Mindfulness practices. The following questionnaires were used: sociodemographic profile; perception of self-satisfaction; Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-BR), both in an adapted and validated version for Brazilian Portuguese. The questionnaires were completed anonymously at the beginning and end of the program. RESULTS: The participants were 58 university students from the psychology course, between the 1st and 10th semesters, aged between 18 and 60 years. To minimally evaluate the pilot project, it was necessary for each participant to attend at least 5 meetings. Those that did not reach this minimum participation were not considered in the final comparative results. Finally, 16 participants were included in the study analyses. The mean was used to compare the initial and final results of the questionnaires. The comparisons showed a reduction in the severity levels of the symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as an improvement in the majority of the Mindfulness scores obtained in the facets. CONCLUSION: The application of the 8-week Mindfulness program to university students led to suggested benefits, such as a probable reduction in scores obtained in the assessment of symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, improvement in general mindfulness and self-perception, and greater satisfaction with life itself.

The Impact of Baseline Mindfulness Scores on Mindfulness-Based Intervention Outcomes: Toward Personalized Mental Health Interventions.

A growing body of evidence has portrayed mindfulness as a useful tool for dealing with a broad range of psychological problems and disorders. This has created the impression that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be used to treat nearly all psychological difficulties, in all cases. Nonetheless, little research has been done on how individual differences may contribute to intervention outcomes. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of baseline mindfulness on participants’ outcomes by examining three prior Randomized Controlled Trials that addressed the impact of MBIs on mental health and mindfulness measures. The participants were 164 people, aged between 12 and 45, from both clinical and non-clinical samples. Our findings indicate that at least two thirds of the change produced by these interventions in terms of mindfulness scores can be predicted by the baseline scores of the same variables. We also found that many trajectories are not only strongly influenced by the initial status of the participants, but also by the intervention performed, as attested to by the significant interactions found. These results stress the need to continue doing research in a way that considers the diversity of participants’ trajectories, increasing the room for intervention improvements aligned with a more personalized health care model.