Psychological Changes From Four Weeks of Intensive Mindfulness Meditation Practice

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Orzech ◽  
Shauna L. Shapiro ◽  
Mathew McKay
Keyword(s):  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Psychological Changes

scholarly journals Brief online mindfulness training for medical students: a randomized control study

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-41
Author(s):  
Sarah Moore ◽  
Denese Playford ◽  
Hanh Ngo ◽  
Rita Barbour ◽  
Kirsten Auret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Study Engagement

BACKGROUNDMedical students experience high levels of stress during their training. Literature suggests that mindfulness can reduce stress and increase self-compassion levels in medical students. However, most mindfulness training programs are delivered face-to-face and require significant time commitments, which can be challenging for rurally-based students with heavy academic workloads and limited support networks. PURPOSETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a brief online Mindfulness training program for medical students based in rural areas, with regards to reducing stress, increasing self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement. METHODSThis is a non-registered randomised control trial. Participants included both urban and rural medical students from UWA, University of Notre Dame and the RCSWA from 2018-2020. Participants were randomised to the intervention group, an 8-week online mindfulness training program, or the control group. Using quantitative-qualitative mixed-methods approach, we measured the frequency, duration and quality of the participants mindfulness meditation practice, and assessed changes in their perceived stress, self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement levels. Further, the intervention group recorded a weekly reflective journal documenting their experience of the program. RESULTS114 participants were recruited to the study. 61 were randomised to the intervention, and 53 to the control. Quantitative analysis of the frequency, duration and quality of mindfulness meditation practice and changes in stress, self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement is currently being conducted. Preliminary qualitative results reveal that participants experienced increased self-awareness, more mindfulness of their day-to-day activities, improved emotional regulation and increased productivity, while also facing difficulties with making time for their mindfulness practice. CONCLUSIONWe anticipate that this study will demonstrate that an online mindfulness training program tailored to reach rurally located medical students is feasible and effective in modifying their stress levels and psychological wellbeing. 

scholarly journals Gamification of Immersive Meditation Practice in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Matthew John Moroz ◽  
Bianca Calagiu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Therapeutic Applications ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Prison Populations

Benefits arising from meditation practice gamification are not overtly obvious. Desires to achieve and progress to higher levels, which are common to gaming, seem diametrically opposed to the ethos underlying traditional meditation practice. We propose, however, that a motivation to gain greater wellbeing and enlightenment via mindfulness meditation practice shares more with the motivation to progress through a game than is initially apparent. We begin by explaining how gamification techniques may be employed in meditation practice with a focus on mitigating the five hindrances to successful practice as described in the Theravada tradition. We then highlight the utility of employing virtual reality as a medium for such simulations. We discuss the potential for beneficial therapeutic applications in patients with mental health disorders and prison populations. We conclude by summarising our position and urging increased attention in this increasingly relevant area of research.

scholarly journals Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for the General Public: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helané Wahbeh ◽  
Barry S Oken
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Home Practice ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Practice Behavior

Background Mindfulness meditation interventions improve a variety of health conditions and quality of life, are inexpensive, easy to implement, have minimal if any side effects, and engage patients to take an active role in their treatment. However, the group format can be an obstacle for many to take structured meditation programs. Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) is a program that could make mindfulness meditation accessible to all people who want and need to receive it. However, the feasibility, acceptability, and ability of IMMI to increase meditation practice have yet to be evaluated. Objectives The primary objectives of this pilot randomized controlled study were to (1) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of IMMIs in the general population and (2) to evaluate IMMI’s ability to change meditation practice behavior. The secondary objective was to collect preliminary data on health outcomes. Methods Potential participants were recruited from online and offline sources. In a randomized controlled trial, participants were allocated to IMMI or Access to Guided Meditation arm. IMMI included a 1-hour Web-based training session weekly for 6 weeks along with daily home practice guided meditations between sessions. The Access to Guided Meditation arm included a handout on mindfulness meditation and access to the same guided meditation practices that the IMMI participants received, but not the 1-hour Web-based training sessions. The study activities occurred through the participants’ own computer and Internet connection and with research-assistant telephone and email contact. Feasibility and acceptability were measured with enrollment and completion rates and participant satisfaction. The ability of IMMI to modify behavior and increase meditation practice was measured by objective adherence of daily meditation practice via Web-based forms. Self-report questionnaires of quality of life, self-efficacy, depression symptoms, sleep disturbance, perceived stress, and mindfulness were completed before and after the intervention period via Web-based surveys. Results We enrolled 44 adults were enrolled and 31 adults completed all study activities. There were no group differences on demographics or important variables at baseline. Participants rated the IMMI arm higher than the Access to Guided Meditation arm on Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. IMMI was able to increase home practice behavior significantly compared to the Access to Guided Meditation arm: days practiced (P=.05), total minutes (P=.01), and average minutes (P=.05). As expected, there were no significant differences on health outcomes. Conclusions In conclusion, IMMI was found to be feasible and acceptable. The IMMI arm had increased daily meditation practice compared with the Access to Guided Meditation control group. More interaction through staff and/or through built-in email or text reminders may increase daily practice even more. Future studies will examine IMMI’s efficacy at improving health outcomes in the general population and also compare it directly to the well-studied mindfulness-based group interventions to evaluate relative efficacy. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02655835; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02655835 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation/ 6jUDuQsG2)

scholarly journals Development and psychometric properties of the Self-efficacy for Mindfulness Meditation Practice scale

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2017-2030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurjeet S Birdee ◽  
Kenneth A Wallston ◽  
Sujata G Ayala ◽  
Edward H Ip ◽  
Stephanie J Sohl
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
The Self ◽  
Cognitive Interviewing ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Efficacy Measure ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

This study aimed to develop a self-efficacy measure for mindfulness meditation practice (Self-efficacy for Mindfulness Meditation Practice scale). The scale was developed through a process of expert consensus, cognitive interviewing, and evaluation among 199 mindfulness meditation practitioners who completed an online survey. The 9-item Self-efficacy for Mindfulness Meditation Practice scale was unidimensional with three subconstructs of attention, compassion, and emotion. The omega hierarchical coefficient for the total scale was 0.78, and test–retest reliability was intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.89). This study provides preliminary evidence that Self-Efficacy for Mindfulness Meditation Practice scale is a reliable and valid measure of self-efficacy for mindfulness meditation practice.

Mindfulness in workplaces : could it be more spiritual ?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Perocheau
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Altruistic Motivation ◽  
Spiritual Dimension ◽  
The World ◽  
And Performance

Recently, mindfulness meditation has become very popular in workplaces. Proposed as lay practice, it has been proven to be a well-being tool having an impact on efficiency and performance. But cut from its Buddhist roots, mindfulness has lost its spiritual dimension. In this paper, we try to define contemporary concepts useful to build more spiritual narrations for collective action and mindfulness practice in the workplaces. Our research method is based on a theoretical exploration of the traditional Buddhist spiritual context for meditation practice, and on the analysis of the discourses of altruistic leaders. Our intermediary results show that a spiritual mindfulness practice is driven by an altruistic motivation, is based on a non dualistic vision of the world, and is a transformation tool for action. More spiritual narrations of collective action should take into account the primacy of altruism in human experience, the universal dimension of work in the Anthropocene, and will be inspired by other altruistic stories.

scholarly journals Effect of Mindfulness Meditation Practices on Students’ Behavior Change in Secondary Schools in Trashigang District, Bhutan

2021 ◽  
pp. 13-20
Author(s):  
Namgyal Tshering
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Meditation Practice

This research primarily focused on mindfulness meditation affecting students’ behaviour change in secondary schools, Trashigang district, Bhutan. The objectives of the research were to study the levels of students’ mindfulness meditation practice, to identify students’ behaviour change, and to examine mindfulness meditation practice affecting students’ behaviour change in secondary schools in Trashigang, Bhutan. The study administered questionnaires on mindfulness meditation and behaviour change to 367 students in two higher secondary schools and interviewed two students and two teachers in May 2013. The quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed by content analysis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document