The Impact of an Online Mindfulness Program on Self-Compassion, Prosocial Behavior, and Trait Mindfulness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Bailey ◽  
Whitney Comte ◽  
Richard Chambers ◽  
Larissa Bartlett ◽  
Sherelle Connaughton ◽  
...  

Online mindfulness programs have gained traction in recent years due to their increased accessibility and feasibility compared to face-to-face programs. Although much research has demonstrated that face-to-face mindfulness programs can increase trait mindfulness, self-compassion and prosocial attitudes, fewer studies have explored these outcomes in online mindfulness programs. Additionally, the relative importance of formal and informal facets of mindfulness practice (i.e., practicing formal sitting meditation or practicing informally by bringing more awareness to daily activities) has not been extensively examined in either face-to-face or online contexts. This study aimed to test whether participating in a free 4-week online mindfulness program improved trait mindfulness, self-compassion and prosocial behavior, and whether improvements were related to self-reported quality and quantity of mindfulness practice. Using a longitudinal design, a total of 209 matched pre- and post-program survey responses were analysed. Results suggested that participation in the mindfulness program improved participants’ levels of trait mindfulness, self-compassion and prosociality (all p < 0.01). Exploratory analysis indicated the mindfulness program had a significantly greater impact upon prosociality scores for males (p < 0.05). Results also suggested that there was an association between the quality of formal mindfulness practice in the last week of the program and improvements in self-compassion and trait mindfulness (p < 0.01), but this relationship was not present for prosociality, nor for the quality of informal practice or quantity of formal practice. Lastly, exploratory mediation analysis suggested the association between quality of formal practice and self-compassion was mediated by changes in trait mindfulness (p < 0.05). These results suggest participating in an online mindfulness program can lead to improved trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and prosociality. Our results also indicate that practice quality is related to improved trait mindfulness, and that the changes to trait mindfulness mediate improved self-compassion.

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.


2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Cleary ◽  
Nigel Balmer

Maintaining participant engagement in longitudinal surveys has been a key focus of survey research, and has implications for the quality of response and cost of administration. This paper presents new research measuring the impact of the design of between-wave keeping-in-touch mailings on response to the mailing and subsequent wave of a longitudinal survey. Three design attributes of the mailings were randomly implemented: the form of response request (whether respondents were asked to respond only if their address had changed, or in all cases to confirm or update their address); the newsletter included with the mailing (contrasting a newsletter with content tailored to respondent characteristics with a general newsletter and no newsletter); and the outgoing postage used (stamped or franked). The experiments were fielded on a new longitudinal study, the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Panel Survey (CSJPS), and took place between waves one and two. Fieldwork for both waves was conducted by Ipsos MORI face-to-face interviewers. Our main finding was that the tailored newsletter was associated with a significant increase in the wave-two response rate. However, in relation to response to the request, the tailored newsletter, or sending no newsletter at all, were equally effective at inducing response, and significantly better than the general newsletter. We also found that, in relation to the form of request, the ‘change of address’ request was as effective as the more costly ‘confirmation’ request. Findings are discussed with reference to the design of keeping-in-touch mailings for longitudinal surveys.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S356-S356 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Matos ◽  
J. Duarte ◽  
C. Duarte ◽  
J. Pinto-Gouveia ◽  
P. Gilbert

IntroductionCompassion and self-compassion can be protective factors against mental health difficulties, in particular depression. The cultivation of the compassionate self, associated with a range of practices such as slow and deeper breathing, compassionate voice tones and facial expressions, and compassionate focusing, is central to compassion focused therapy (Gilbert, 2010). However, no study has examined the processes of change that mediate the impact of compassionate self-cultivation practices on depressive symptoms.AimsThe aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a brief compassionate self training (CST) intervention on depressive symptoms, and explore the psychological processes that mediate the change at post intervention.MethodsUsing a longitudinal design, participants (general population and college students) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Compassionate self training (n = 56) and wait-list control (n = 37). Participants in the CST condition were instructed to practice CST exercises for 15 minutes everyday or in moments of stress during two weeks. Self-report measures of depression, self-criticism, shame and compassion, were completed at pre and post in both conditions.ResultsResults showed that, at post-intervention, participants in the CST condition decreased depression, self-criticism and shame, and increased self-compassion and openness to receive compassion from others. Mediation analyses revealed that changes in depression from pre to post intervention were mediated by decreases in self-criticism and shame, and increases in self-compassion and openness to the compassion from others.ConclusionsThese findings support the efficacy of compassionate self training components on lessening depressive symptoms and promoting mental health.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cataldo ◽  
Shanton Chang ◽  
Antonette Mendoza ◽  
George Buchanan

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are being encouraged to maintain social distance. Technology is helping people to reschedule meetings from “face-to-face” interactions to remote videoconferencing. Psychologists are in high demand, due to an increase in stress as a result of COVID. Many seek to both keep treating their current patients, and welcome new ones, given the current high demand for their services. Videoconferencing provides an opportunity to do this. However, shifting treatment from face-to-face to the videoconferencing is not simple as both the psychologist and the patient miss the in-person information and cues, such as body language provides. OBJECTIVE A new theoretical framework is proposed to guide the design of future studies on the impact of the computer as a mediator of psychologist-patient relationships, and the influence of videoconferencing on the whole relationship process. METHODS A literature review has been conducted, screening studies focusing on communication, and the key concepts of therapeutic relationship and therapeutic alliance. RESULTS Studies report that patients are generally satisfied with videoconference therapy in terms of the relationship with their therapists and the establishment of the “therapeutic alliance”. However, psychologists report difficulties in establishing same quality of therapeutic relationship and therapeutic alliance. The analysed studies lead us to interpret data under a different perspective. A new model of relationship is proposed, along with further hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS It is important to consider the computer as having an active role in psychologists and patients’ relationships. CLINICALTRIAL


Author(s):  
Rosalie J. Ocker

A series of experiments investigated creativity and quality of work-product solutions in virtual teams (Ocker, forthcoming; Ocker, 2005; Ocker & Fjermestad, 1998; Ocker et al., 1998; 1996). Across experiments, small teams with about five graduate students interacted for approximately two weeks to determine the high-level requirements and design for a computerized post office (Goel, 1989; Olson et al., 1993). The means of interaction was manipulated in these experiments such that teams interacted via one of the following treatments: (1) asynchronous computer-medicated communication (CMC), (2) synchronous CMC, (3) asynchronous CMC interspersed with face-to-face (FtF) meetings, or (4) a series of traditional FtF meetings without any electronic communication. A repeated finding across experiments was that teams interacting only using asynchronous CMC – that is, teams without any FtF or synchronous communication -- produced significantly more creative results than teams in the other treatments. Additionally, asynchronous virtual teams rated high in creativity were generally not the same teams that were judged high in terms of the quality of their deliverable. To further examine these findings, this chapter presents results of an exploratory study designed to investigate the impact of individual personality facets on team outcomes. The objective of this study is to determine whether differences in team outcomes – in terms of the level of creativity versus the quality of the team deliverable – can be predicted by individual member personality.no abstract


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S289-S290
Author(s):  
Chinelo K Nsobundu ◽  
Margaret J Foster ◽  
Yan Hong

Abstract Falls constitute a multitude of injuries irrespective of age. To combat these challenges, older adults are encouraged to engage in recreational activities. Yoga has been identified as an effective physical activity to promote mobility and balance for older adults. This study aims to systematically review the literature about yoga as a fall prevention intervention and synthesize the outcomes. Major databases (Ovid Medline & CINAHL) were searched for relevant articles. Studies were included if they met the criteria of 1) being a face to face yoga program, 2) aimed to recruit participants 50 years or older, and 3) reported at least one fall-related outcome (e.g., balance, mobility, fear of falling) as a result of the yoga program. 57 studies were identified: 32 from Ovid Medline and 25 from CINAHL. After removing the duplicates and applying a strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were included in the final analysis. A detailed synthesis of the results will be presented and quality assessment of included articles will be performed using the Modified Downs and Black checklist which appraises the methodological quality of both randomized and non-randomized studies. More research is needed to understand the impact of yoga in preventing falls among older adults at least 50 years of age. Additionally, research should establish a gold standard index that identifies which specific yoga programs ( based on type- individual vs. group; hatha, iyengar, kundalini, ashtanga, and etc.; frequency, and duration) have an enhanced effect on fall prevention.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 929-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Marta-Simões ◽  
Cláudia Ferreira ◽  
Ana Laura Mendes

Research has emphasized the important role of recalling childhood experiences on adult mental health, and also the benefits of self-compassion on well-being. This study explored self-compassion as a mediator between early memories with family and peers and quality of life, on a wide age range female sample ( N = 645). Path analysis revealed that self-compassion mediated the impact of both types of memories on women’s perceived quality of life. Overall, results revealed that the recall of early positive memories, either with family and peers, associate with a more compassionate self-to-self relationship, and the perception of greater psychological and social well-being.


2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Bańkowska ◽  
Malgorzata Osiewicz ◽  
Sébastien Pérez-Duarte

Nonresponse is a common issue affecting the vast majority of surveys. Efforts to convince those unwilling to participate in a survey might not necessary result in a better picture of the target population and can lead to higher, not lower, nonresponse bias.We investigate the impact of non-response in the European Commission & European Central Bank Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE), which collects evidence on the financing conditions faced by European SMEs compared with those of large firms. This survey, conducted by telephone bi-annually since 2009 by the ECB and the European Commission, provides a valuable means to search for this kind of bias, given the high heterogeneity of response propensities across countries.The study relies on so-called “Representativity Indicators” developed within the Representativity Indicators of Survey Quality (RISQ) project, which measure the distance to a fully representative response. On this basis, we examine the quality of the SAFE Survey at different stages of the fieldwork as well as across different survey waves and countries. The RISQ methodology relies on rich sampling frame information, which is however partly limited in the case of the SAFE. We also assess the representativeness of the SAFE particular subsample created by linking the survey responses with the companies’ financial information from a business register; this sub-sampling is another potential source of bias which we also attempt to quantify. Finally, we suggest possible ways how to improve monitoring of the possible nonresponse bias in the future rounds of the survey.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Hendrik Palinggi ◽  
Witarsa Tambunan

The objectives of writing this study were to: 1) to obtain the best methods and techniques in the limited face-to-face learning management system in Rantepao Christian Senior High School; 2) contributing advice to the school management team in order to improve the quality of learning during the Covid 19 pandemic; 3) contributing advice to educators and education personnel in order to improve face-to-face learning management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method used in this writing is a qualitative method with a literature review approach and participant responses via google form to students and teachers at Rantepao Christian High School. In the analisis using the problem tree approach, target tree, and alternative solution tree in getting the expected results. The results show that the impact of a learning management system that is suitable for school conditions can provide time-effective and cost-efficient convenience for students and teachers in achieving learning objectives.   Keywords: learning management, face-to-face learning, Covid-19 pandemic


Author(s):  
Herbert Ntuli ◽  
Edwin Muchapondwa ◽  
Victor Ntuli ◽  
Lina Mangwende

The impact of inequality and technology on access to online education has received tremendous attention within the past two decades from researchers across the globe. What remains under-researched is the knowledge of how shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic affect access to online education. The main objective of the study was to examine inequality in accessing online education in the context of a crisis in a developing region. A mixed-method approach was used to collect and analyze online survey data based on 393 undergraduate students from six countries in Southern Africa. Both observable and hidden inequality sources such as income and participation in household chores compromise the quality of online education. A shift from face-to-face teaching to online education is likely to result in learning difficulties and deterioration in the quality of education. Policies such as the provision of free data improve the learning experience by reducing inequality. Therefore, decision-makers should take into consideration inequality in designing policies and strategies during a crisis.


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