Browsing by Subject "Mindfulness"

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A case for mindfulness practice in fostering multicultural competence in counseling
(2014-08) Tourek, Samuel Christopher
Clear and alarming disparities in mental health service and utilization exist between ethnic minorities and non-minorities. Research in the field of counseling psychology has been vigilant in naming this issue, and multicultural counseling competence (MCC) has been identified as an essential, ethical component to best practice in therapy. However, despite these efforts, action has been inadequate and slow to address the needs of substantial portions of the population. A contributing factor in the delay to amend these disparities is the lack of clarity about exactly what constitutes MCC, and how it is achieved, demonstrated and/or experienced. The present study offers mindfulness meditation as a potential vehicle for cultivating multicultural competence in therapists. Research in the field that combines MCC and mindfulness is virtually non-existent. As such, this study explores the relationship between MCC and mindfulness among 123 therapists at college and university counseling centers across the country. Survey data collected included demographic information, and the completion of the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey- Counselor Edition- Revised Outcome (MAKSS-CE-R) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Correlation and regression analyses were conducted for all participants and also for White-identified participants only. Data analysis revealed that positive relationships do exist between the MAKSS-CE-R and the FFMQ, and also between their respective subscales. Exploratory analyses revealed Gender to be a significant moderator of FFM-Observing when predicting MAKSS-CE-R-Total score among all participants and among White-identified participants. FFM-Non-judging was also moderated by Gender as a significant predictor variable among White-identified therapists. Results suggest that MCC and mindfulness are related, and that mindfulness may account for a respectable amount of the variance in MCC score as measured by the MAKSS-CE-R.
Cultural Intelligence in Thailand: An Examination of its Antecedents and Consequence
(2018-05) Bovornusvakool, Witsinee
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is one of the most successful development factors that can be employed for expatriate adjustment and performance in cross-cultural settings. Very little research has examined the association between different antecedents and intercultural outcomes through CQ from a holistic perspective. Specifically, the antecedents of CQ are usually considered a multidimensional construct. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among CQ’s antecedents (i.e., cross-cultural experience (CCE), general cross-cultural training (CCT), Thai CCT, and openness to experience) and CQ’s consequence (i.e., expatriate performance) within a sample of overseas teachers employed in international educational institutions in Thailand. Cultural intelligence was considered a mediating variable between CCE and expatriate performance, as well as between CCTs and expatriate performance. Openness to experience was considered a moderating variable between CCE and CQ, as well as between CCTs and CQ. Further, the effect of CQ-employed mindfulness was examined to see if mindfulness could explain additional variance in expatriate performance above and beyond the original components of CQ. Path analysis was primarily conducted to examine the sequences of relationships among the variables in the present study. A qualitative analysis was also conducted to better understand the learning of Thai culture from the actual experiences of overseas teachers in Thailand. Results showed that the variables used in this study are related to and contribute significantly to explaining expatriate performance. The overall fit of the proposed models that use CQ-employed mindfulness as a mediator variable is better than the overall fit of the proposed models that use CQ-only as a mediator variable. Overseas teachers with high openness to experience scores reported high CQ scores. There was also an interaction effect between CCE and openness to experience on CQ. Further, the overseas teachers with high CQ scores reported high expatriate performance scores. In addition, more general CCT days directly predicted higher CQ scores. Lastly, four major themes describing the learning of Thai culture emerged. This study concludes by discussing implications for research and practice, the limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research.
The effects of a mindfulness based intervention on impulsivity, symptoms of depression, anxiety, experiences and quality of life of persons suffering from substance use disorders and traumatic brain injury.
(2012-08) Kristofersson, Gisli Kort
Background: Studies have shown that of the 1.4 million Americans who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, many have significant cognitive disabilities as a result of their injuries and up to half suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs). This often leads to significant issues such as increased rates of mental health problems and delay or lack of return to full employment. Aims: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness and impact of an adapted MBSR program on different psychosocial dimensions of persons suffering from a dual diagnosis of SUDs and TBI. Method: Anxiety, depression, quality of life, impulsivity and participants’ and staff persons’ experiences were explored using a mixed methods design to gain a comprehensive picture of the impact of the adapted eight week mindfulness intervention on the participants of the study. The qualitative evaluation focused on the impact that mindfulness meditation practice had on clients’ and staff persons experiences using an adapted grounded theory approach. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to examine outcomes of quantitative measures Results: The general health perceptions scale of the SF-36 declined over the course of the study in a statistically significant manner. Changes in other measures were mostly in the predicted direction but were not statistically significant. The qualitative interviews revealed numerous perceived benefits reported by participants gleaned from their involvement in the intervention. These included subjective reports of positive effects of the intervention on mood, impulsivity, anxiety and personal relationships. Conclusions: The adapted mindfulness based intervention applied in this study is an inexpensive and safe method that appeared to fit the needs of the participants in this study well according to qualitative interviews. However, the exploratory nature of this study and the paucity of statistically significant results, indicates that future studies with a larger sample size are needed in this field.
Interplay among Neural, Autonomic, and Neuroendocrine Systems in Rumination
(2022-07) Thai, Michelle
Rumination is a type of perseverative negative cognition that is associated with greater risk for depression and a worse prognosis. Current treatments for depression do not always adequately address symptoms of rumination. Novel, biologically-based treatments need to be developed. To develop such treatments, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying rumination using multilevel approaches is necessary since processes like rumination implicate different neural and physiological systems which may constrain one another or have additive effects. This study took a multiple units of analysis approach to examine 1) neural connectivity and activation in the frontolimbic circuit and Default Mode Network (DMN), 2) heart rate variability (HRV), and 3) basal cortisol levels in the context of awakening in the context of a novel treatment for rumination incorporating mindful breathing training (MBT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This study explored 1) how rumination is related to these three systems and 2) how improvement in rumination relates to changes in these three systems. Overall, we find evidence that mindful breathing and tDCS can reduce rumination and depression as well as change these neurophysiological systems. Although these findings were not always clearly related to improvement in clinical symptoms, we find some evidence that tDCS and mindful breathing can increase HRV, decrease DMN and frontolimbic activation during a rumination induction task, increase frontolimbic RSFC, and increase positive mind wandering, which was generally associated with clinical improvement, generally more so or the tDCS group relative to sham. These results provide preliminary evidence that web-based mindfulness practices may have potential in reducing rumination and changing relevant neurophysiological systems.
The lived experience of self-compassion in social workers.
(2012-07) Rickers, Susan
Social workers often face challenging work situations. The result of these situations can be stress, burnout, and secondary trauma. Though social workers are known for having compassion for others, the concept of self-compassion, having compassion for oneself, is relatively new and understudied. The purpose of this study was to develop and advance an understanding of the lived experience of self-compassion among social workers. The study was guided by one research question: What is the lived experience of self-compassion in social workers who have completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, a program on developing mindfulness? The conceptual framework and methodology are grounded in phenomenology. This dissertation is important as it provides critical knowledge about self-compassion for social workers, other helping professionals, and lay people living in a stressful world. Participants in this study included 10 social workers who have completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program on mindfulness that also incorporates learning about self-compassion. The social workers represented a variety of practice experiences including: county human service work, private practice, non-profit work, school social work, hospital social work, nursing home social work, and crisis work. The participants had between five and 30+ years of experience as social workers. During an in-depth interview, each participant responded to the primary interview prompt: Please think about and describe a specific instance or situation in your social work practice when you experienced self-compassion. A thematic analysis of individual interviews was completed and validated by each study participant. Analysis across interviews revealed four distinct themes. First, the participants described the nature of self-compassion, emphasizing five elements. Second, participants described the value of self-compassion in stressful work situations. Third, the participants described self-compassion as a "conduit" of healing for others. Fourth, the participants described self-compassion as a life long journey. In a fifth finding, not shared by all participants, inclusion of self-compassion into the social work education curriculum and continuing education was advocated. This research leads to an understanding of what self-compassion is as well as what it means for practicing social workers. Implications of this study are relevant to social work practice, education, and research.
A Meta-Analysis of Research Examining the Relationship between Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
(2019-04) Ziemann, Kevyn
Abstract Objective: Mindfulness interventions are extensively utilized for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The question to be examined in this study is: does the current literature on mindfulness support its use as an intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted that aggregated data from peer-reviewed journals examining the relationship between mindfulness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adults. Method: Multiple databases were searched to identify the population of published studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model with the Comprehensive Meta Analysis software, version 3.3.070. Both correlational and experimental studies were included in the analysis. Results: In total, 61 studies including 6,933 participants were included for analysis. All but one study demonstrated an effect in the same direction. Thirty-eight studies were experimental in design, while 23 studies were correlational in design. Effects of mindfulness on PTSD symptoms were in the moderate range, with an overall Hedge’s g = -.576. Heterogeneity analysis revealed a high degree of variability in effect sizes in the study. Two sub analyses were also conducted. The first found a significant difference between the effect sizes of correlational and intervention studies, with Hedge’s g of -0.703 and -0.565, respectively. The second sub-analysis focused on the question of whether MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) interventions were significantly different from non-MBSR interventions. The difference was found to be non-significant. Several other factors were identified during the review of literature as possible covariates to explain the heterogeneity of variance. These included trauma incurred, country of study, and gender. However, meta-regression revealed that the proportion of variance explained by these covariates was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Correlational studies consistently found that as mindfulness increases, PTSD symptomatology decreases. Intervention studies consistently demonstrated that mindfulness training resulted in lowered posttraumatic stress symptoms. Limitations: Limitations of this study include the over representation of military and combat trauma in the included studies. The source and funding of these studies was from the Veteran Affairs Administration, introducing a possible bias. This study is also limited in that few moderator variables were explored, yielding minimal information about heterogeneity of variance. Implications: This appears to be the first meta-analysis on this topic. The use of mindfulness as an intervention strategy for the treatment of post-trauma symptoms is supported by this study. As more studies accumulate, future analyses can be designed to better understand the heterogeneity of study outcomes.
The “Midlife Study" mindfulness as an intervention to change health behaviors in midlife women.
(2009-12) Frisvold, Melissa Hanner
Forty subjects were enrolled in this study at Baseline and thirty-eight were enrolled at Week 16. At Baseline, there were no statistically significant differences between the mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) and the active control health education (HE) groups on any of the demographic, psychosocial or physiologic measures. Attendance was better for the MBSR group than HE and was statistically significant. The purpose of Aim 1 was to determine if a program of MBSR would increase weight loss and reduce BMI. These changes would occur through a program of diet and exercise with increased commitment through being "mindful." In order to determine if there was a treatment effect based on group assignment, a spline linear mixed effects model was tested. The results of this testing found no statistically significant treatment effects on weight or BMI. The purpose of Aim 2 was to determine if a program of MBSR would improve symptoms of psychosocial stress, depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality and increase mindfulness. Another purpose of Aim 2 was to determine if a program of MBSR would result in lower cortisol, fasting glucose, hs-CRP, hip-to-waist ratio, and BP relative to the active control group. A spline linear mixed model was tested to determine if there was a treatment effect based on group assignment on any of the psychosocial measures. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups on any of the psychosocial measures. One-way ANOVAs found no statistical significant differences post study based on group assignment on any of the physiologic markers. There was an apparent reduction from Baseline to Week 16 (program end) in both groups in weight, BMI, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and improvements in sleep quality and mindfulness (statistical significance not tested). Several recommendations are made for future research. The program could be tested combining simultaneous engagement in mindfulness (or health education) and the diet and exercise portion. The program was safe and feasible and may be implemented in practice. However, the content and protocol processes need to be refined with data to support their efficacy, and the outcomes be closely evaluated.
Mindful Collaboration to Influence School Improvement
(2016-05) Skanson, Eric
School leaders use collaboration for a variety of purposes including school improvement. This study researched how school principals used collaboration for school improvement and examined the day-to-day impact on principals and their staff. A mixed method design was employed to answer questions about collaboration including fruitful areas to encourage, removal of barriers and addition of supports for successful collaboration. The Levels of School Collaboration Scale was developed as a quantitative measure of collaboration in schools to examine the perceived levels of collaboration between various nested relationships in schools of teachers and teams. The scale identified Pinewood Elementary as site of promising collaborative practice for further research. Findings from the case study found that school leaders play an executive role in establishing, supporting and maintaining a collaborative culture for school improvement. The implications for school leaders included the identification of a systematic mindful approach through four dimensions of collaboration to influence successful collaboration.
Mindfulness based stress reduction effects on registered nurses.
(2009-12) Penque, Susan
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Effects on Registered Nurses Background: Nursing turnover is reaching disturbing rates and proving to be a crisis. Nurses are leaving the profession mostly due to stress from clinical work and inability to practice as they were prepared. Strategies are needed to assist nurses manage clinical work and their overall health. The MBSR program promotes overall well being and reduces stress in some populations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MBSR is an effective tool to support nurses psychologically and to improve work satisfaction as they perform their essential work roles. Theoretical Framework: This study was based on Heideggerian philosophy of `being' and Kabat Zinn's work on mindfulness. METHOD: A quasi-experimental, longitudinal, pretest post test design was used to examine the effects of MBSR on mindfulness, self compassion, empathy, serenity, and work satisfaction of nurses (N=80). The correlation between mindfulness and self compassion, serenity and empathy were examined. The effects of MBSR on incidental overtime and job burnout were also analyzed. RESULTS: Most (N=61) nurses completed the MBSR program (76%). Statistically significant differences were found pre to post MBSR in mindfulness (33.2 to 42.9), self compassion (2.8 to 3.8), serenity (3.0 to 3.7), work satisfaction measure of autonomy (3.3 to 4.3), and all subscales of job burnout. There was a statistically significant increase in empathetic concern from baseline (21.3 to 22.5). Mindfulness was significantly correlated with self compassion (r=.79) and serenity (r=.78). Incidental overtime trended downward throughout the study. IMPLICATIONS: Findings support the utilization of MBSR to improve overall psychological outcomes and work satisfaction for registered nurses. MBSR statistically increased mindfulness in nurses which impacts practice by enhancing nursing presence. Mindfulness may improve patient care through patient safety, satisfaction, and quality of outcomes. RECOMMENDATIONS: Further research is needed to explore the effects of MBSR on different groups of nurses. The utilization of MBSR as an intervention to help transition new graduates to staff nursing may be an effective means for overall retention. MBSR may be helpful in settings with high stress such as critical care units. The program of MBSR enhances mindful thoughts and actions. Further nursing research is needed to explore the effects of MBSR on nursing practice as it relates to patient safety.
Mindfulness-based Yoga intervention for women with elevated levels of depressive symptoms
(2014-12) Schuver, Katie Jo
One of the most common and debilitating health conditions in the United States and worldwide is major depression. Preliminary evidence indicates that Hatha Yoga may be an effective intervention for the management and treatment of depressive symptoms. Although compelling, these results are preliminary given the many substantial methodological limitations. Additional research is needed that addresses these limitations. The current study was a prospective, randomized, controlled intervention pilot study examining the efficacy of a 12-week mindfulness-based yoga intervention relative to a walking health education comparison condition among sedentary women (n=40) with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms and other wellness outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Both groups reported decreases in depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention, f (1,33)=34.83, p<.001, and from baseline to one-month follow-up, f (1,33)=37.01, p<.001. After controlling for baseline, there were no significant between group differences on depression scores at post-intervention and one-month follow-up assessments. The mindfulness-based yoga condition reported significantly lower levels of rumination than the walking health education comparison condition, after controlling for baseline levels of rumination, at post-intervention, (f (1,31)=6.23, p<0.01). Similar improvements for both groups from baseline to post-intervention were observed for increased moderate intensity physical activity, perceived stress, mindfulness, quality of life, and sleep disturbance; however, there were no differences between groups. Results indicate that yoga may be effective for reducing rumination; however, its effect on depressive symptoms is less clear. Future studies, with larger samples are needed to address the effect of yoga on depression.
Moderators of the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention compared to an active control for solid organ transplant patients.
(2010-08) Sherr, Laura Jayne
Psychological distress and sleep disturbance are common among post-operative transplant patients. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) may be helpful in providing relief for these symptoms without interfering with a demanding medication regimen. This study is based on the Wellness Intervention After Transplant Study (Gross, Kreitzer, Thomas, Reilly-Spong, Cramer-Bornemann, Nyman, Frazier, & Ibrahim, in press) and evaluated moderators of the effectiveness of MBSR compared to an active control group for reducing depression, anxiety, and sleep dysfunction. The active control group was referred to as Health Education (HE) and was based on Stanford University's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (Lorig et. al, 2000). It was hypothesized that individuals with greater levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, and fewer psychosocial resources (mindfulness and self-efficacy) would benefit from either intervention more than individuals with less distress and more psychosocial resources. Additionally, individuals would do better in the intervention that targeted the domain in which they were lacking (e.g. those with lower baseline mindfulness would do better in MBSR than HE; those with lower baseline self-efficacy would do better in HE than MBSR). Participants consisted of 127 solid organ transplant recipients who were at least six months post-surgery, randomized to either the MBSR or HE groups, and completed baseline and post-intervention (8-week) assessments. Results indicated that participants with fewer psychosocial resources and greater distress did better in the HE group in regards to reducing symptoms. This pattern did not hold for those in the MBSR group where individuals with greater psychosocial resources reduced symptoms; whereas those with more distress and fewer resources increased in symptoms.
Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate a Self-Guided, Web-Based Mindfulness Program for Stress Reduction and Wellbeing Promotion
(2015-08) Prasek, Aimee
Background: Stress is a public health issue that has costly personal and societal effects. Stress-reduction interventions, such as those integrating mindfulness practices, have demonstrated significant improvements for stress and wellbeing outcomes when delivered to small, in-person groups. The effectiveness of self-guided, web-based mindfulness programs to address barriers of in-person programs deserves more attention. Objective: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine the effectiveness of a self-guided, web-based mindfulness program ("Sherman Project"�) in reducing perceived stress and improving wellbeing for a group of University students, staff, and faculty. Method: A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided, web-based mindfulness program. Students, staff, and faculty from a large University were recruited to participate. Results: 192 participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the waitlist control. Participants were predominantly Caucasian females. The study was powered to detect statistically significant differences in PSS scores at the mid-assessment point. Compared to the waitlist control, the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved PSS scores at both the mid and post-assessments. The intervention group also demonstrated improved wellbeing when compared to the waitlist. Intervention participants engaged in the 7-week program for roughly 120 total minutes. A small, but non-significant association between program engagement and PSS scores was found, suggesting that as individuals engaged more in the program, perceived stress may slightly decrease. Conclusions: This RCT demonstrated effectiveness for the use of Sherman Project, a self-guided, web-based mindfulness program, to reduce perceived stress for a sample of University students, staff, and faculty. Wellbeing also showed tendency for improvement for the intervention group. Results may support the use of low-intensity, web-based mindfulness interventions as an effective option to address common access barriers of in-person services and as an efficient component of public health initiatives for stress reduction and wellbeing-promotion.
Ready4Routines: Improving Child Executive Function Skills through Autonomy Supportive Parent-Child Reflective Routines
(2021-06) Semenov, Andrei
Predictable daily routines are a promising context for executive function (EF) interventions. Routines provide structure and predictability that support EF skills. The parent-child interactions during routines help reinforce important serve and return patterns that promote autonomy supportive parenting practices. This dissertation uses a two-generation approach to examine the effects of a novel parenting intervention, Ready4Routines, designed to promote autonomy supportive parenting, mindfulness, and EF development among parents and their children. Ready4Routines follows a fast-cycle intervention design. Pilot studies in 2015 and 2016 led to iterations in intervention design and implementation. Study 1 investigates the effects of Ready4Routines and a modified version of the intervention called Shine on Families on parents and children in Head Start and Early Head Start centers across the United States (N = 228). Study 2 investigates Ready4Routines in an independent suburban school district in Minnesota and a Head Start program in Florida (N = 44). Results from Study 1 and Study 2 indicate that participation in Ready4Routines and Shine on Families is associated with increases in autonomy supportive parenting after controlling for parent EF skills and child age. Ready4Routines demonstrates the potential of leveraging daily family routines to deliver high-quality parenting interventions.
The voices of mindfulness, attachment-related strategies and the mother-child relationship
(2013-04) Little, Meg
Attachment security and mother-child relationships serve a critical role in human development. Several studies have demonstrated an association between the salutary effects of security-based attachment strategies and mindfulness. This descriptive research study explores this relationship through semi-structured interviews, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) Scale. Five recently homeless mothers were offered eight mindfulness training sessions. Interviews were interpreted using the Listening Guide, a qualitative, feminist, relational, voice-centered method of analysis to describe the perceived effects of mindfulness practices on the qualia of mindfulness, attachment-related strategies, and the nature of mother-child relationships. Mothers report increased mindfulness, reduced stress, improved parenting experiences, and mutually fulfilling relationships with their children.

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