Mindfulness Research Articles

Exploring the Connection Between Mental Health and Well-Being for Faculty in Hospitality and Tourism Education: A Thematic Analysis

ABSTRACT There is limited research addressing mental health issues among academic faculty. Considering the profound impact that mental health has on individual well-being, it is important to understand the factors contributing to mental distress and develop appropriate coping mechanisms, accounting for the unique setting of academia. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to critically evaluate the existing literature on mental health and mindfulness practices and their impact on well-being domains for faculty in hospitality and tourism. The paper employs a recursive thematic analysis to identify major topics in the literature and suggest future research directions and policy implications for higher education institutions. The study’s findings help to raise awareness of this critical issue in academia and establish a conceptual framework to evaluate the connection between mental health and well-being domains for faculty members and offer feasible tools to enhance faculty’s mental health and well-being.

Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Mindfulness Meditation Among Adults With Internet Gaming Disorder

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), recently identified internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a condition warranting more research, and few empirically validated treatments exist. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has multiple health benefits; however, its efficacy in treating IGD and potential neural mechanisms underlying MM treatment of the disorder remain largely unknown. To explore the efficacy of MM used to treat adults with IGD and to identify neural mechanisms underlying MM. This randomized clinical trial was performed from October 1 to November 30, 2023, at Hangzhou Normal University in Hangzhou, China. Adults (aged ≥18 years) who met at least 6 of the 9 DSM-5-TR proposed criteria for IGD were recruited to receive either MM or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Data analysis was performed on December 1, 2023. Participants underwent MM training (an 8-session meditation program that focuses on attention and acceptance) and PMR training (an 8-time program for body relaxation) delivered in groups that met 2 times each week for 4 weeks. This per-protocol analysis included only participants who finished the pretest assessment, 8 training sessions, and posttest assessment. The main outcomes were addiction severity (measured with the DSM-5-TR proposed criteria for IGD and with Internet Addiction Test scores), gaming craving (measured with Questionnaire for Gaming Urges scores), and blood oxygen level-dependent signals assessed with cue-craving tasks on fMRI. Behavioral and brain measurements were compared using analysis of variance. Functional connectivity (FC) among identified brain regions was measured to test connectivity changes associated with MM. This study included 64 adults with IGD. A total of 32 participants received MM (mean [SD] age, 20.3 [1.9] years; 17 women [53%]) and 32 received PMR (mean [SD] age, 20.2 [1.5] years; 16 women [50%]). The severity of IGD decreased in the MM group (pretest vs posttest: mean [SD], 7.0 [1.1] vs 3.6 [0.8]; P < .001) and in the PMR group (mean [SD], 7.1 [0.9] vs 6.0 [0.9]; P = .04). The MM group had a greater decrease in IGD severity than the PMR group (mean [SD] score change for the MM group vs the PMR group, -3.6 [0.3] vs -1.1 [0.2]; P < .001). Mindfulness meditation was associated with decreased brain activation in the bilateral lentiform nuclei (r = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.60; P = .02), insula (r = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.60; P = .047), and medial frontal gyrus (MFG; r = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.70; P = .01). Increased MFG-lentiform FC and decreased craving (pretest vs posttest: mean [SD], 58.8 [15.7] vs 33.6 [12.0]; t = -8.66; ƞ2 = 0.30; P < .001) was observed after MM, and changes in MFG-lentiform FC mediated the relationship between increased mindfulness and decreased craving (mediate effect, -0.17; 95% CI, -0.32 to -0.08; P = .03). In this study, MM was more effective in decreasing addiction severity and gaming cravings compared with PMR. These findings indicate that MM may be an effective treatment for IGD and may exert its effects by altering frontopallidal pathways. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300075869.

The Relationship among Internet Addiction, Moral Potency, Mindfulness, and Psychological Capital.

This research aimed to contribute to the literature on internet addiction (IA) and moral development among university students. Moral potency (MP) encompasses the interconnected dimensions of moral courage, moral ownership, and moral efficacy. Studies on the relationships between students' problematic behaviors (e.g., IA) and cognitive processes like MP, mindfulness (MI), and psychological capital (PsyCap) are scarce in educational research. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships among IA, MP, MI, and PsyCap in university students. This study included 868 undergraduate students from a state university in Ethiopia, with 526 male students (60.6%) and 342 female students (39.4%). Participants' ages ranged from 21 to 29 years, with a mean age of 22.31 and a standard deviation of 4.03. The findings indicated that IA was negatively correlated with MI, PsyCap, and MP. Both MI and PsyCap showed positive correlations with MP. Importantly, this study revealed that IA had a direct and negative impact on MI, PsyCap, and MP. Further, MI and PsyCap partially mediated and fully mediated the relationship between IA and MP. These findings suggest that cultivating MI and positive PsyCap among university students could be an important strategy to reduce the risks of IA and enhance their moral development. This study contributes to the limited research on the complex relationships between technology use, psychological resources, and moral functioning in emerging adulthood.

Mindfulness, Self-Efficacy, and Mental Health Among First-Year College Art and Design Students

ABSTRACT Mindfulness is a tool increasingly used to reduce stress and anxiety in the college student population. This study investigated the effects of mindfulness and self-efficacy on mental health outcomes (i.e. anxiety, depression, stress) among 186 first-year art and design students. Researchers examined whether state mindfulness and self-efficacy were predictive of measures of mental health, and if self-efficacy acted as a moderator between levels of mindfulness and mental health. Demographic variables were explored as covariates. Results showed that mindfulness was a statistically significant predictor of anxiety, stress, and depression, while controlling for potential covariates. Self-efficacy was not a significant predictor. Gender identity moderated the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety. Self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between mindfulness and mental health outcomes. The current findings support the use of mindfulness practice among art and design students. Colleges are encouraged to provide offerings aimed at increasing mindfulness. Limitations and research directions are discussed.

Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Transplantation

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of mindfulness meditation on the anxiety, self-efficacy, and quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Data of 124 patients who underwent CABG in our hospital from May 2020, to May 2022, were collected. In accordance with the presence or absence of mindfulness meditation, the patients were divided into control group (n = 64, conventional cardiac rehabilitation) and observation group (n = 60, conventional cardiac rehabilitation + mindfulness meditation). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), quality of life, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results: No significant difference was observed in the HAMA, GSES, and quality-of-life scores between the two groups after operation (p &gt; 0.05). After the intervention, the HAMA score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (p &lt; 0.05), and the GSES and quality of life scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (p &lt; 0.05). The total incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group (5.00%) was lower than that in the control group (7.81%), without significant difference (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: The use of mindfulness meditation for patients undergoing CABG is beneficial to relieve anxiety and improve their self-efficacy and quality of life, hence worthy of adoption.

Can mindfulness-based training impact explicit and implicit attitudes and sustainable nutrition behavior? A focus on vegetarianism

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a mindfulness intervention (IG) compared to an inactive control group (CG) on explicit and implicit attitudes toward vegetarian and meat-based foods, nutrition behavior measures, trait mindfulness and wellbeing. MethodsIn the IG (N = 66), we implemented a mindfulness-based intervention consisting of eight weekly group sessions online, along with an additional half-day session held on campus. The CG (N = 71) received no intervention or training. We employed a pre-/post-intervention design involving questionnaires (trait mindfulness, wellbeing, sustainable nutrition behavior scale), an online supermarket scenario, as well as an explicit rating task and an implicit association task using pictures of vegetarian and meat-based foods. Additionally, a voluntary follow-up testing was conducted two months after the final group session. ResultsNo intervention effects were observed on explicit and implicit attitudes, wellbeing, or nutrition behavior measures. However, there was an increase in trait mindfulness within the IG. Exploratory cross-sectional findings indicated that trait mindfulness facets such as “Acting with Awareness” and “Outer Awareness”, along with explicit attitudes, were significant predictors of self-reported sustainable consumption behavior. Additionally, sex and explicit attitudes were identified as significant predictors of vegetarian consumption behavior in the online supermarket task. ConclusionOur findings could not substantiate previous claims regarding the potential causal effects of mindfulness practice on sustainable consumption behavior, specifically in the realm of sustainable and vegetarian nutrition, as well as subjective wellbeing. Future studies may benefit from implementing longer-term mindfulness-based interventions and considering other potential decisive factors, such as connectedness to nature and others. Integrating training elements focusing on these specific variables into the intervention could be valuable.

Web-Based Therapist-Guided Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and stand-alone mindfulness meditation interventions are gaining empirical support for a wide variety of mental health conditions. In this study, we test the efficacy of web-based therapist-guided mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-M) for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a psychiatric disorder characterized by preoccupations with perceived defects in appearance. This study aims to determine whether CBT-M for BDD delivered on the web is feasible and acceptable and whether mindfulness meditation adds to CBT treatment effects for BDD. In this 8-week, 2-arm, parallel pilot randomized controlled trial, n=28 adults (aged between 18 and 55 years) were randomly allocated to an experimental group (web-based therapist-guided CBT-M) or a control group (web-based therapist-guided CBT). Study retention, accrual, and intervention adherence were assessed, along with self-report measures for BDD, depression, anxiety, and pain intensity taken at baseline and postintervention. This study was feasible to implement and deemed acceptable by participants. After 8 weeks, significant improvements were found on all outcome measures for both treatment groups, and large between-group effect sizes favoring CBT-M were found for BDD symptom severity (d=-0.96), depression (d=-1.06), pain severity (d=-1.12), and pain interference (d=-1.28). However, linear mixed models demonstrated no significant differences between the groups over 8 weeks. The results suggest that mindfulness meditation may add to beneficial web-based CBT treatment effects for BDD. An adequately powered randomized control trial of web-based CBT-M is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05402475, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05402475.

“Let's keep calm and breathe”—A mindfulness meditation program in school and its effects on children's behavior and emotional awareness: An Australian pilot study

AbstractThis study aimed to understand how mindfulness meditation affects young people by examining its impact on self‐regulation, happiness, emotional awareness, and school performance among two groups of school children. A 10‐week mindfulness program was conducted by a meditation expert for 552 children aged 4–8 (Group 1) and 287 children aged 9–11 (Group 2). Results for the 4–8 years group (Group 1) showed meditation predicted an increase in happiness (R2 = .003, p &lt; .001) and self‐reported school performance (R2 = .005, p &lt; .001) and a decrease in emotional (R2 = .017, p &lt; .001) and behavioral difficulties (R2 = .009, p &lt; .001); however, the effect sizes were small. In the 9–11 years group (Group 2), meditation predicted an increase in emotional awareness (R2 = .02, p &lt; .001), and a decrease in emotional (R2 = .014, p &lt; .001) and behavioral difficulties (R2 = .009, p &lt; .001) as measured by scores from baseline to postintervention. For Group 2, there was no significant change in happiness over the 10 weeks. The findings support incorporating mindfulness meditation in schools, noting significant enhancements in self‐regulation with just 5 min of daily practice.

Longitudinal neurofunctional changes in medication overuse headache patients after mindfulness practice in a randomized controlled trial (the MIND-CM study)

BackgroundMindfulness practice has gained interest in the management of Chronic Migraine associated with Medication Overuse Headache (CM-MOH). Mindfulness is characterized by present-moment self-awareness and relies on attention control and emotion regulation, improving headache-related pain management. Mindfulness modulates the Default Mode Network (DMN), Salience Network (SN), and Fronto-Parietal Network (FPN) functional connectivity. However, the neural mechanisms underlying headache-related pain management with mindfulness are still unclear. In this study, we tested neurofunctional changes after mindfulness practice added to pharmacological treatment as usual in CM-MOH patients.MethodsThe present study is a longitudinal phase-III single-blind Randomized Controlled Trial (MIND-CM study; NCT03671681). Patients had a diagnosis of CM-MOH, no history of neurological and severe psychiatric comorbidities, and were attending our specialty headache centre. Patients were divided in Treatment as Usual (TaU) and mindfulness added to TaU (TaU + MIND) groups. Patients underwent a neuroimaging and clinical assessment before the treatment and after one year. Longitudinal comparisons of DMN, SN, and FPN connectivity were performed between groups and correlated with clinical changes. Vertex-wise analysis was performed to assess cortical thickness changes.Results177 CM-MOH patients were randomized to either TaU group or TaU + MIND group. Thirty-four patients, divided in 17 TaU and 17 TaU + MIND, completed the neuroimaging follow-up. At the follow-up, both groups showed an improvement in most clinical variables, whereas only TaU + MIND patients showed a significant headache frequency reduction (p = 0.028). After one year, TaU + MIND patients showed greater SN functional connectivity with the left posterior insula (p-FWE = 0.007) and sensorimotor cortex (p-FWE = 0.026). In TaU + MIND patients only, greater SN-insular connectivity was associated with improved depression scores (r = -0.51, p = 0.038). A longitudinal increase in cortical thickness was observed in the insular cluster in these patients (p = 0.015). Increased anterior cingulate cortex thickness was also reported in TaU + MIND group (p-FWE = 0.02).ConclusionsIncreased SN-insular connectivity might modulate chronic pain perception and the management of negative emotions. Enhanced SN-sensorimotor connectivity could reflect improved body-awareness of painful sensations. Expanded cingulate cortex thickness might sustain improved cognitive processing of nociceptive information. Our findings unveil the therapeutic potential of mindfulness and the underlying neural mechanisms in CM-MOH patients.Trial RegistrationName of Registry; MIND-CM study; Registration Number ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0367168; Registration Date: 14/09/2018

Humanistic Buddhism: Amṛtyupasthāna, Ānāpānasmṛti and Holistic Health Management

Humanistic Buddhism provides a profound and unique perspective on exploring the path of holistic health. Smṛtyupasthāna (Four Mindfulnesses) is a basic meditation method in Buddhism, which involves continuous awareness and observation of four different aspects: (1) Kāyānupassanā (Body Mindfulness), (2) Vedanānupassanā (Mindfulness of Feelings), (3) Cittānupassanā (Mindfulness of Mind) and (4) Dhammānupassanā (Mindfulness of Dharma). Mindfulness is an effective way to manage worries, allowing us to be free from worries, stay away from upside-down dreams, and achieve a state of freedom. This article proposes a model of humanistic Buddhism and holistic health: (1) Kāyānupassanā and Physical Well-being, (2) Vedanānupassanā and Spiritual Well-being, (3) Cittānupassanā and Mental Well-being, and (4) Dhammānupassanā and Social Well-being. The Four Mindfulness Practices of Humanistic Buddhism provide us with valuable tools and ways to improve the holistic health and cope with the challenges and difficulties in life. Through spiritual practice and practice, we can achieve holistic health at the individual, physical, spiritual and social levels.

No add-on therapeutic benefit of at-home anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex to mindfulness meditation in patients with fibromyalgia

ObjectiveThis study investigated the efficacy of combining at-home anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the left primary motor cortex (M1) with mindfulness meditation (MM) in fibromyalgia patients trained in mindfulness. MethodsThirty-seven patients were allocated to receive ten daily sessions of MM paired with either anodal or sham tDCS over the primary motor cortex. Primary outcomes were pain intensity and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were psychological impairment, sleep quality, mood, affective pain, mindfulness level, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of cortical excitability. Outcomes were analyzed pre- and post-treatment, with a one-month follow-up. ResultsWe found post-tDCS improvement in all clinical outcomes, including mindfulness level, except for positive affect and stress, in both groups without significant difference between active and sham conditions. No significant group*time interaction was found for all clinical and TMS outcomes. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate no synergistic or add-on efffect of anodal tDCS of the left M1 compared to the proper effect of MM in patients with fibromyalgia. SignificanceOur findings challenge the potential of combining anodal tDCS of the left M1 and MM in fibromyalgia.

A mindfulness-based intervention improves perceived stress and mindfulness in university nursing students: a quasi-experimental study

University nursing students have been shown to experience psychological stress. A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) may be a helpful tool for stress management. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a MBI on improving mindfulness and reducing perceived stress in nursing students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted between July 2021 and February 2022. The intervention group participated in an 8-week mindfulness awareness course, which included 50 min of training and practice in mindfulness meditation techniques each week. Over the same 8 weeks, the control group watched a 50-min film each week. The mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS) and perceived stress scale (PSS) were administered before the intervention, intervention completion, and 2 and 6 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using t test and generalized estimating equation. Overall, that the MBI showed a substantial effect on felt stress in comparison to the control group. When compared to the control group, the MBI showed a substantial impact on trait mindfulness. The MBI was beneficial for nursing students and could be considered a viable approach in nursing education to enhance mental wellbeing. It could be an effective method of relieving stress in a high-stress population.

Mechanisms of Organizational Mindfulness on Employee Well-Being and Engagement: A Multi-Level Analysis

This article investigates the currently limited multidisciplinary research front in emerging areas of mindfulness practice, employee well-being, and engagement. This evidence-based study aims to explore multifaceted mechanisms on how an organizational mindfulness development may affect well-being and engagement at multiple levels. This study employed a qualitative case study research design using Nvivo 12 software for a data analysis. The job demand–resource (JD-R) model was adopted as a theoretical framework. In-depth interview data were collected from diverse multi-stakeholders, including management and employees, in a Thai manufacturing company. Our findings uncover that the organizational mindfulness program can improve employee’s psychological capital, emotional intelligence, and perceived resources, and alleviate perceived demands. The result implies the importance of the mindfulness practice since it can support well-being and engagement at multiple levels, specifically from individual work and a collective team of colleagues, and toward enhanced organizational performance. Our proposed emergent model also advances the JD-R theoretical framework, by adding mindfulness and emotional intelligence as essential components to enhance engagements at three levels (i.e., work, team, and organizational engagement). Overall, the result critically provides the theoretical development and insightful managerial implications for professional and organizational development.

An exploratory randomized controlled trial of virtual reality as a non-pharmacological adjunctive intervention for adults with chronic cancer-related pain

BackgroundThe growing popularity and affordability of immersive virtual reality (VR), as adjunctive non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) for chronic pain, has resulted in increasing research, with mixed results of its effectiveness reported. This randomized controlled superiority trial explored the effects of a home-based adjunctive 3D VR NPI for chronic pain in cancer patients, compared to the same NPI experienced through a two-dimensional (2D) medium.MethodsThe NPI used four different applications experienced for 30 min for six days a week at home for four weeks using established cognitive distraction and mindfulness meditation techniques. Participants were randomly assigned (N = 110) into two arms: a VR group (n = 57) where the NPI was delivered through a VR system, and a control group (n = 53) which used a computer screen for delivery. Participants were blinded to which arm of the study they were in, and sequence of the NPI applications experienced was randomized. Primary outcomes of daily pre/post/during exposure, and weekly average pain scores were assessed via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and secondary outcomes of weekly Quality of Life (SF-12), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were measured.ResultsFindings indicate VR applications were not significantly superior to the 2D group, but both VR and control NPIs provided clinically important pain reduction for participants when experiencing significant daily pain of a VAS ≥ 4. No significant adverse effects were encountered, although many of the participants in the VR group reported some cybersickness in certain applications (VR group n = 46 vs 2D group n = 28).ConclusionsOverall, VR did not provide superiority as an NPI for pain relief compared to 2D computer-based applications. For those experiencing significant pain, cognitive distractive applications appeared superior for VR-based pain reduction during exposure, whilst meditative applications supplied better pain relief post-exposure. Findings from this trial support some clinical efficacy of home-based VR immersive experiences as NPIs for chronic cancer-related pain but in this context the 2D computer-based applications demonstrated similar value.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02995434, registered 2017–07-31.

Mindfulness in nursing students: enhancing well-being through breath practices

The present study aimed to assess focus/concentration, perception of quality of life, class attention, and anxiety, as well as class attendance and academic performance of nursing undergraduates from a Higher Education Institution before and after the application of breathing and mindfulness meditation techniques. Forty-five seventh-semester (fourth-year) students of both genders, aged 18 and above, participated in the study. The technique was applied for three months through breathing and meditation practices in the classroom. For data collection, a structured questionnaire with four closed-ended questions was used, administered before and after the training sessions. The overall results of the indicators showed that the undergraduates demonstrated a 32.6% improvement in focus/concentration, a 32.4% improvement in perceived quality of life post-training. Regarding class attention, there was a 25.7% increase. An improvement of 44% was observed in anxiety levels, along with a 27% increase in class attendance (reduced absenteeism), and a 74% enhancement in academic performance. The students showed significant improvements in all indicators related to focus/concentration, quality of life, anxiety levels, absenteeism, and academic performance after learning and practicing some breathing and mindfulness meditation techniques. These data underscore the importance of integrating mindfulness approaches in the educational context, contributing to the development of undergraduates.

The effects of self-leadership and mindfulness training on leadership development: a systematic review

AbstractInvestment in leadership development programs (LDPs) does not reliably increase leaders’ competence in core socioemotional skills related to self-management, self-awareness, and relationship-building with employees. Training programs focused on self-leadership, in combination with mindfulness practices, have the potential to address this gap. However, robust research that assesses the suitability and efficacy of such programs is lacking. In this article, the results of a systematic review of the literature on self-leadership and mindfulness in the context of LDPs are reported. A total of 52 articles were selected from an initial pool of 284 articles, subjected to textual analysis, and coded in terms of the reported impact levels for all of the examined training programs. This study revealed that training in self-leadership competencies and skills improved stress resilience, job performance and satisfaction, and positive attitudes and increased leaders’ abilities to organize and motivate their teams. Mindfulness training was strongly linked to stress reduction and self-regulation as well as to enhanced sleep and reduced burnout. Mindfulness also appeared to improve job performance and emotional regulation and to increase the ability to establish positive relationships with employees.

Trait Mindfulness and Social Support Predict Lower Perceived Stress Burden in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Purpose/ObjectivesCancer diagnosis and treatment, including radiation therapy (RT), cause significant patient stress. Mindfulness and social support have been shown to help manage the psychological effects of cancer treatment. The objective of our study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with stress burden in patients undergoing RT. Materials/MethodsPatients undergoing RT for cancer at a single institution were given 3 surveys to complete at the beginning of on-treatment visit. The surveys included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS), and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), which were used to measure stress, social support, and trait mindfulness, respectively. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine associations between perceived stress and age, patient sex, race and ethnicity, treatment intent, disease site, trait mindfulness, and social support. Factors significant on univariable analysis were analyzed with a multivariable analysis. ResultsA total of 93 patients completed 279 surveys during treatment at a tertiary care academic institution from July to September 2019. Median scores for PSS, MOS, and MAAS were 14.6 (range: 0-31, SD: 6.9), 4.2 (range: 0-5, SD: 1.0), and 5.1 (range: 3.1-6.0, SD: 0.8), respectively. On univariable analysis, mindfulness and social support were associated with decreased stress burden, and female sex and palliative intent were associated with increased stress burden. These factors all maintained significance on multivariable analysis. ConclusionThese results suggest measures to improve mindfulness and perceived social support, such as mindfulness meditation and psychoeducational approaches, may lessen the stress burden and improve quality of life for patients undergoing RT. Future studies should analyze the longitudinal impact of individual patient characteristics, including patient sex and treatment intent, to better understand their effects on psychological maladjustment during cancer care

Mobile-based mindfulness meditation intervention’s impact on mental health among young male judo athletes in South Korea: a quasi-experimental study

Young athletes commonly encounter various mental health challenges due to the distinct pressures inherent in sports environments. This study investigates the effectiveness of mobile-delivered mindfulness meditation interventions in alleviating mental health indicators of depression, perceived stress, and anxiety, and enhancing self-esteem and resilience among young male judo athletes in South Korea. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were completed by 53 judo athletes. Participants were then allocated to the intervention group (N = 27; Mage = 13.77 [SD = 1.11]), which used a mobile meditation software program, or the control group (N = 27; Mage = 13.56 [SD = 1.05]). Data analysis compared intervention and control group scores using multiple statistical methods, including independent sample t-tests, paired sample t-tests, and 2 (time) × 2 (group) repeated measures analysis of variance. Following the intervention, the mindfulness group exhibited significant enhancements in the mental health indicators of depression (GMD = 2.74 [95% CI 0.90–4.56], Cohen’s D = 0.84), perceived stress (GMD = 0.35 [95% CI 0.002–0.70], Cohen’s D = 0.56), and anxiety (GMD = 0.2 [95% CI 0.001–0.40, Cohen’s D = 0.56]. Self-esteem also had a significant increase (GMD = 0.55 [95% CI − 0.22 to − 0.88], Cohen’s D = 0.95). The findings of this study underscore the potential benefits of mobile-delivered mindfulness meditation interventions in addressing mental health challenges among young male judo athletes. The significant enhancements observed in scores on measures of depression, perceived stress, anxiety, and self-esteem among participants in the mindfulness group highlight the effectiveness of such interventions in promoting mental health in sports settings.

Mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program: Strengths and limitations in Vietnamese school-based mindfulness practice

Mindfulness practices in schools have emerged as an educational effort that aims to promote the development of the competency and mental well-being of students. Specifically, mindfulness-based social–emotional learning (MBSEL) programs are an educational strategy that focuses on the improvement of social–emotional competence by cultivating awareness of the present moment through mindfulness activities. This study intended to investigate the benefits and limitations of the implementation of school-based mindfulness practice in a developing nation with a culturally diverse and multi-religious population. Using an interpretive phenomenological method, the researchers interviewed eight mindfulness practitioners experienced in teaching or overseeing MBSEL programs in schools. The findings demonstrated how a western-based mindfulness program can be matched with the fundamental concepts of eastern mindfulness practices, as influenced by the Eastern Trinity philosophy. Furthermore, the study emphasized the difficulties that emerged from misconceptions about the concepts of mindfulness practice and the position of school-based mindfulness programs within the scope of school counseling, which impeded the successful implementation of the practitioners of the MBSEL model. These initial findings elucidated the nuances of implementing MBSEL initiatives within the context of a developing country marked by a rich tradition of mindfulness practice and accessible resources for advancing mindfulness studies.

Mental health intervention development for indigenous youth: Essential elements and guiding principles

There is a need for intervention studies to address mental health issues with Indigenous youth. The purpose of this work is to: 1) consider calming approaches introduced by Native-American adolescents who described in writing how they manage day-to-day stress; and 2) identify culturally relevant constructs (elements and principles) for development of mental health promotion interventions for use with Indigenous youth. Central ideas shared by Native-American adolescents were merged with existing literature to identify essential elements and guiding principles for intervention development. Three essential elements (talking circles; mindfulness practice; tailored educational content) with associated guiding principles are recommended for intervention development.