Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health: A Review of Empirical Studies
TL;DR: It is concluded that mindfulness brings about various positive psychological effects, including increased subjective well-being, reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation.
About: This article is published in Clinical Psychology Review.The article was published on 2011-08-01 and is currently open access. It has received 1902 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy & Mindfulness-based stress reduction.
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TL;DR: The MSC program appears to be effective at enhancing self-compassion, mindfulness, and wellbeing.
Abstract: Objectives
The aim of these two studies was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, an 8-week workshop designed to train people to be more self-compassionate.
Methods
Study 1 was a pilot study that examined change scores in self-compassion, mindfulness, and various wellbeing outcomes among community adults (N = 21; mean [M] age = 51.26, 95% female). Study 2 was a randomized controlled trial that compared a treatment group (N = 25; M age = 51.21; 78% female) with a waitlist control group (N = 27; M age = 49.11; 82% female).
Results
Study 1 found significant pre/post gains in self-compassion, mindfulness, and various wellbeing outcomes. Study 2 found that compared with the control group, intervention participants reported significantly larger increases in self-compassion, mindfulness, and wellbeing. Gains were maintained at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups.
Conclusions
The MSC program appears to be effective at enhancing self-compassion, mindfulness, and wellbeing.
1,457 citations
TL;DR: A systematic search of the literature on compassion and mental health used meta-analysis to explore associations between self-compassion and psychopathology using random effects analyses of Fisher's Z correcting for attenuation arising from scale reliability and found a large effect size.
1,203 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that online MBIs have potential to contribute to improving mental health outcomes, particularly stress, and that effect sizes for stress were significantly moderated by the number of intervention sessions.
605 citations
Cites background from "Effects of Mindfulness on Psycholog..."
...Through facilitating awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of moment-to-moment experiences, these mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are assumed to alleviate intense emotional states (Baer, 2003; Keng et al., 2011)....
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...In the past two decades, MBIs have become increasingly popular (Baer, 2003; Keng et al., 2011)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive overview of the effects of mindfulness meditation on various psychological variables, for meditators in non-clinical settings, is presented, and the effect sizes differ widely across dependent variables, including attention, intelligence, self-attributed mindfulness, positive and negative emotions, emotion regulation, personality traits, selfconcept, selfrealization, stress and well-being.
Abstract: Previous meta-analyses on the effects of mindfulness meditation were predominantly concerned with clinical research. In contrast, the present study aims at giving a comprehensive overview of the effects of mindfulness meditation on various psychological variables, for meditators in nonclinical settings. Included are 39 studies that fulfilled our six selection criteria: (1) a mindfulness meditation treatment, (2) the existence of an inactive control group, (3) a population of nonclinical adults, (4) the investigation of psychological measures that were (5) assessed at temporal distance from a meditation session, and (6) the availability of sufficient data to calculate effect sizes. The dependent variables examined included, among others, attention, intelligence, self-attributed mindfulness, positive and negative emotions, emotion regulation, personality traits, self-concept, self-realization, stress, and well-being. We found an effect size of $$ \overline r = 0.27 $$
averaged across all studies and dependent variables. The effects differed widely across dependent variables. Moreover, we found large differences between the effect sizes reported for complete Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs vs. “pure” meditation. MBSR seems to have its most powerful effect on attaining higher psychological well-being, whereas pure mindfulness meditation studies reported the largest effects on variables associated with the concept of mindfulness. This raises the question if some effect sizes found for MBSR might be partly inflated by effects that are not attributable to its mindfulness meditation component. Future theorizing should address meditation-specific concepts more extensively to account for the changes in healthy practitioners.
577 citations
TL;DR: The progress of CBT in the treatment of chronic pain and the challenges now faced by researchers and clinicians interested in meeting this need for development are reviewed and greater detail is focused on areas of development within CBT, namely acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches, areas that may hold potential for future progress.
Abstract: Over 30 years ago, treatments based broadly within cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) began a rise in prominence that eventually culminated in their widespread adoption in chronic pain treatment settings. Research into CBT has proliferated and continues today, addressing questions very similar to those addressed at the start of this enterprise. However, just as it is designed to do, the process of conducting research and analyzing evidence reveals gaps in our understanding of and shortcomings within this treatment approach. A need for development seems clear. This article reviews the progress of CBT in the treatment of chronic pain and the challenges now faced by researchers and clinicians interested in meeting this need for development. It then focuses in greater detail on areas of development within CBT, namely acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches, areas that may hold potential for future progress. Three specific recommendations are offered here to achieve this progress.
489 citations
References
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TL;DR: Correlational, quasi-experimental, and laboratory studies show that the MAAS measures a unique quality of consciousness that is related to a variety of well-being constructs, that differentiates mindfulness practitioners from others, and that is associated with enhanced self-awareness.
Abstract: Mindfulness is an attribute of consciousness long believed to promote well-being. This research provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the role of mindfulness in psychological well-being. The development and psychometric properties of the dispositional Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) are described. Correlational, quasi-experimental, and laboratory studies then show that the MAAS measures a unique quality of consciousness that is related to a variety of well-being constructs, that differentiates mindfulness practitioners from others, and that is associated with enhanced selfawareness. An experience-sampling study shows that both dispositional and state mindfulness predict self-regulated behavior and positive emotional states. Finally, a clinical intervention study with cancer patients demonstrates that increases in mindfulness over time relate to declines in mood disturbance and stress. Many philosophical, spiritual, and psychological traditions emphasize the importance of the quality of consciousness for the maintenance and enhancement of well-being (Wilber, 2000). Despite this, it is easy to overlook the importance of consciousness in human well-being because almost everyone exercises its primary capacities, that is, attention and awareness. Indeed, the relation between qualities of consciousness and well-being has received little empirical attention. One attribute of consciousness that has been much-discussed in relation to well-being is mindfulness. The concept of mindfulness has roots in Buddhist and other contemplative traditions where conscious attention and awareness are actively cultivated. It is most commonly defined as the state of being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present. For example, Nyanaponika Thera (1972) called mindfulness “the clear and single-minded awareness of what actually happens to us and in us at the successive moments of perception” (p. 5). Hanh (1976) similarly defined mindfulness as “keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality” (p. 11). Recent research has shown that the enhancement of mindfulness through training facilitates a variety of well-being outcomes (e.g., Kabat-Zinn, 1990). To date, however, there has been little work examining this attribute as a naturally occurring characteristic. Recognizing that most everyone has the capacity to attend and to be aware, we nonetheless assume (a) that individuals differ in their propensity or willingness to be aware and to sustain attention to what is occurring in the present and (b) that this mindful capacity varies within persons, because it can be sharpened or dulled by a variety of factors. The intent of the present research is to reliably identify these inter- and intrapersonal variations in mindfulness, establish their relations to other relevant psychological constructs, and demonstrate their importance to a variety of forms of psychological well-being.
9,818 citations
"Effects of Mindfulness on Psycholog..." refers background or methods in this paper
...…consider mindfulness to be a one-dimensional construct referring specifically to paying attention to the present-moment experience (e.g., Brown & Ryan, 2003; Carmody, 2009), others argue that qualities such as curiosity, acceptance, and compassion are inherent tomindfulness (Baer &…...
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...…reported for samples of undergraduate students (e.g., Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006; Brown & Ryan, 2003), community adults (e.g., Brown & Ryan, 2003; Chadwick et al., 2008) and clinical populations (e.g., Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004; Chadwick et al., 2008; Walach, Buchheld,…...
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...Though some researchers focus almost exclusively on the attentional aspects of mindfulness (e.g., Brown & Ryan, 2003), most follow the model of Bishop et al. (2004), which proposed that mindfulness encompasses two components: selfregulation of attention, and adoption of a particular orientation…...
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...Higher levels of selfreported mindfulness are associated with self-reports of greater engagement in valued behaviors and interests (Brown & Ryan, 2003) and of ability to engage in goal-directed behavior when emotionally upset (Baer et al., 2006)....
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...…(Buchheld, Grossman, & Walach, 2001), Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS; Baer et al., 2004), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003), FiveFacet Mindfulness Questionnaire (Baer et al., 2006), Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (Feldman, Hayes, Kumar,…...
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TL;DR: Illustration de trois fonctions principales qui sont predominantes dans l'etude de l'intervention de l'sattention dans les processus cognitifs: 1) orientation vers des evenements sensoriels; 2) detection des signaux par processus focal; 3) maintenir la vigilance en etat d'alerte
Abstract: : The concept of attention as central to human performance extends back to the start of experimental psychology, yet even a few years ago, it would not have been possible to outline in even a preliminary form a functional anatomy of the human attentional system. New developments in neuroscience have opened the study of higher cognition to physiological analysis, and have revealed a system of anatomical areas that appear to be basic to the selection of information for focal (conscious) processing. The importance of attention is its unique role in connecting the mental level of description of processes used in cognitive science with the anatomical level common in neuroscience. Sperry describes the central role that mental concepts play in understanding brain function. As is the case for sensory and motor systems of the brain, our knowledge of the anatomy of attention is incomplete. Nevertheless, we can now begin to identify some principles of organization that allow attention to function as a unified system for the control of mental processing. Although many of our points are still speculative and controversial, we believe they constitute a basis for more detailed studies of attention from a cognitive-neuroscience viewpoint. Perhaps even more important for furthering future studies, multiple methods of mental chronometry, brain lesions, electrophysiology, and several types of neuro-imaging have converged on common findings.
7,237 citations
"Effects of Mindfulness on Psycholog..." refers background in this paper
...Several aspects of attention, each related to different neurobiological substrates, may be distinguished (Posner & Peterson, 1990): orienting (the ability to direct attention towards a set of stimuli and sustain attention on it), alerting (the ability to remain vigilant or receptive towards a wide…...
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Book•
01 Jan 1993TL;DR: The treatment of Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been studied extensively in the literature as discussed by the authors, with a focus on the treatment of the behavioral patterns of patients with BPD.
Abstract: Part I: Theory and Concepts Borderline Personality Disorder: Concepts, Controversies, and Definitions Dialectical and Biosocial Underpinnings of Treatment Behavioral Patterns: Dialectical Dilemmas in the Treatment of Borderline Patients Part II: Treatment Overview and Goals Overview of Treatment: Targets, Strategies, and Assumptions in a Nutshell Behavioral Targets in Treatment: Behaviors to Increase and Decrease Structuring Treatment around Target Behaviors: Who Treats What and When Part III: Basic Treatment Strategies Dialectical Treatment Strategies Core Strategies: Validation Core Strategies: Problem Solving Change Procedures: Contingency Procedures of Managing Contingencies and Observing Limits Change Procedures: Skills Training, Exposure, Cognitive Modification Stylistic Strategies: Balancing Communication Case Management Strategies: Interacting with the Community Part IV: Strategies for Specific Tasks Structural Strategies Special Treatment Strategies Appendix: Suggesting Reading References Index
6,378 citations
TL;DR: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) as discussed by the authors measures the ability to act in desired ways regardless of emotional state, and has high internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and adequate construct and predictive validity.
Abstract: Given recent attention to emotion regulation as a potentially unifying function of diverse symptom presentations, there is a need for comprehensive measures that adequately assess difficulties in emotion regulation among adults. This paper (a) proposes an integrative conceptualization of emotion regulation as involving not just the modulation of emotional arousal, but also the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of emotions, and the ability to act in desired ways regardless of emotional state; and (b) begins to explore the factor structure and psychometric properties of a new measure, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Two samples of undergraduate students completed questionnaire packets. Preliminary findings suggest that the DERS has high internal consistency, good test–retest reliability, and adequate construct and predictive validity.
6,185 citations
"Effects of Mindfulness on Psycholog..." refers background in this paper
...Finally, values clarification and improved behavioral self-regulation may be two additional avenues through which mindfulness training improves psychological well-being (Gratz & Roemer, 2004; Shapiro et al., 2006)....
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TL;DR: studies from the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society not reviewed by Baer but which raise a number of key questions about clinical applicability, study design, and mechanism of action are reviewed.
Abstract: studies from the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society not reviewed by Baer but which raise a number of key questions about clinical applicability, study design, and mechanism of action, and (7) current opportunities for professional training and development in mindfulness and its clinical applications.
5,891 citations