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Scientific Reports Jun 2024University nursing students have been shown to experience psychological stress. A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) may be a helpful tool for stress management. The...
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.
Topics: Humans; Mindfulness; Students, Nursing; Stress, Psychological; Female; Male; Young Adult; Adult; Universities; Meditation
PubMed: 38851820
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64183-5 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2022While many companies take the environmental environment as a fundamental part of their business strategies, managers are facing the challenges to explore the integration... (Review)
Review
While many companies take the environmental environment as a fundamental part of their business strategies, managers are facing the challenges to explore the integration of environmental concepts and business operations. Although there are an amount of studies about environmental management in the literature, only a few of them applied the concept of mindfulness to environmental management. Mindfulness is regarded as a way of operation marked by the willingness to consider alternative perspectives, focus on the present, attention to operational detail, and interest in exploring and understanding failures. This study suggests that companies require keeping mindfulness in environmental management implementation. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the application of mindfulness theory to environmental management, and propose a conceptual model of antecedents and consequences of green mindfulness. The proposed multilevel model describes the influences of organizational and individual antecedents on green mindfulness, and the organizational and individual consequences of green mindfulness.
Topics: Commerce; Mindfulness; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 35681952
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116367 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2023Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness...
Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness levels of university music therapy students. A qualitative methodology was used, and data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. To investigate various aspects of data regarding the role of the meditation and music (MM) programme for mindfulness and happiness, this study used thematic analysis within a qualitative research design. The findings of this study suggest that the 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) programme is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. These results carry broader implications, particularly in terms of supporting mental health resources in higher education. Furthermore, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the positive impact of combining meditation and music to promote mental well-being. This integrated approach has the potential to strengthen coping strategies and further promote the integration of music and meditation practices in various contexts, including higher education.
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Happiness; Music; Mindfulness; Emotions
PubMed: 38063569
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20237140 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2021Mindfulness is the practice of awareness and living in the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness-based interventions may improve dementia-related outcomes. Before...
BACKGROUND
Mindfulness is the practice of awareness and living in the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness-based interventions may improve dementia-related outcomes. Before initiating interventions, it would be beneficial to measure baseline mindfulness to understand targets for therapy and its influence on dementia outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study examined patient and caregiver mindfulness with patient and caregiver rating scales and patient cognitive performance and determined whether dyadic pairing of mindfulness influences patient outcomes.
METHODS
Individuals (N = 291) underwent comprehensive evaluations, with baseline mindfulness assessed using the 15-item Applied Mindfulness Process Scale (AMPS). Correlation, regression, and mediation models tested relationships between patient and caregiver mindfulness and outcomes.
RESULTS
Patients had a mean AMPS score of 38.0±11.9 and caregivers had a mean AMPS score of 38.9±11.5. Patient mindfulness correlated with activities of daily living, behavior and mood, health-related quality of life, subjective cognitive complaints, and performance on episodic memory and attention tasks. Caregiver mindfulness correlated with preparedness, care confidence, depression, and better patient cognitive performance. Patients in dyads with higher mindfulness had better cognitive performance, less subjective complaints, and higher health-related quality of life (all p-values<0.001). Mindfulness effects on cognition were mediated by physical activity, social engagement, frailty, and vascular risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Higher baseline mindfulness was associated with better patient and caregiver outcomes, particularly when both patients and caregivers had high baseline mindfulness. Understanding the baseline influence of mindfulness on the completion of rating scales and neuropsychological test performance can help develop targeted interventions to improve well-being in patients and their caregivers.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Caregivers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Middle Aged; Mindfulness; Resilience, Psychological; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 33427746
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201292 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Sep 2023Digital mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are a promising approach to deliver accessible and scalable mindfulness training and have been shown to improve a range of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Digital mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are a promising approach to deliver accessible and scalable mindfulness training and have been shown to improve a range of health outcomes. However, the success of digital MBIs is reliant on adequate engagement, which remains a crucial challenge. Understanding people's experiences of using digital MBIs and identifying the core factors that facilitate or act as barriers to engagement is essential to inform intervention development and maximize engagement and outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to systematically map the literature on people's experiences of using digital MBIs that target psychosocial variables (eg, anxiety, depression, distress, and well-being) and identify key barriers to and facilitators of engagement.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review to synthesize empirical qualitative research on people's experiences of using digital MBIs. We adopted a streamlined approach to ensure that the evidence could be incorporated into the early stages of intervention development. The search strategy identified articles with at least one keyword related to mindfulness, digital, user experience, and psychosocial variables in their title or abstract. Inclusion criteria specified that articles must have a qualitative component, report on participants' experiences of using a digital MBI designed to improve psychosocial variables, and have a sample age range that at least partially overlapped with 16 to 35 years. Qualitative data on user experience were charted and analyzed using inductive thematic synthesis to generate understandings that go beyond the content of the original studies. We used the Quality of Reporting Tool to critically appraise the included sources of evidence.
RESULTS
The search identified 530 studies, 22 (4.2%) of which met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the samples were approximately 78% female and 79% White; participants were aged between 16 and 69 years; and the most used measures in intervention studies were mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and variables related to mental health (including depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being). All studies were judged to be adequately reported. We identified 3 themes characterizing barriers to and facilitators of engagement: responses to own practice (ie, negative reactions to one's own practice are common and can deplete motivation), making mindfulness a habit (ie, creating a consistent training routine is essential yet challenging), and leaning on others (ie, those engaging depend on someone else for support).
CONCLUSIONS
The themes identified in this review provide crucial insights as to why people frequently stop engaging with digital MBIs. Researchers and developers should consider using person-based coparticipatory methods to improve acceptability of and engagement with digital MBIs, increase their effectiveness, and support their translation to real-world use. Such strategies must be grounded in relevant literature and meet the priorities and needs of the individuals who will use the interventions.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Young Adult; Mindfulness; Qualitative Research; Middle Aged; Aged
PubMed: 37768709
DOI: 10.2196/44220 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2022Strong materialistic values help to maintain consumer capitalism, but they can have negative consequences for individual well-being, for social equity and for...
Strong materialistic values help to maintain consumer capitalism, but they can have negative consequences for individual well-being, for social equity and for environmental sustainability. In this paper, we add to the existing literature on the adverse consequences of materialistic values by highlighting their negative association with engagement in attitudes and actions that support the achievement of sustainable well-being. To do this, we explore the links between materialistic values and attitudes towards sufficiency (consuming "just enough") as well as mindfulness (non-judgmental awareness of the present moment) and flow (total immersion in an activity), which have all been linked to increased well-being and more sustainable behaviours. We present results from three correlational studies that examine the association between materialistic values and sufficiency attitudes (Study 1, = 310), a multi-faceted measure of mindfulness (Study 2, = 468) and the tendency to experience flow (Study 3, = 2000). Results show that materialistic values were negatively associated with sufficiency attitudes, mindfulness, and flow experiences. We conclude with practical considerations and suggest next steps for tackling the problematic aspects of materialism and encouraging the development of sustainable well-being.
Topics: Attitude; Mindfulness
PubMed: 35329360
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063673 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Intrusive thoughts of negative experiences can pose a threat to our well-being. To some extent, unwanted memories can be intentionally controlled via an executive...
Intrusive thoughts of negative experiences can pose a threat to our well-being. To some extent, unwanted memories can be intentionally controlled via an executive control mechanism that downregulates the occurrence of intrusions. Mindfulness training can improve executive control. It is not known whether mindfulness training can be used as an intervention to improve intentional memory control and reduce intrusions. To this end, 148 healthy participants completed a 10-day app-based mindfulness training or an active control task. At baseline, inhibitory control and working memory were assessed as measures of executive functioning. Post-mindfulness training, intrusions were assessed via the Think/No-Think task. It was expected that mindfulness training would reduce intrusions. Furthermore, we hypothesised that this would be moderated by baseline executive functioning. Results revealed that, contrary to our hypothesis, both groups increased equally in dispositional mindfulness between baseline and post-test. As such, our exploratory analysis revealed that higher dispositional mindfulness across both groups resulted in fewer intrusions and enhanced the ability to downregulate intrusions over time. Furthermore, this effect was moderated by inhibitory control at baseline. These results provide insight into factors that can improve the ability to control unwanted memories, which could have considerable implications for treatments in psychopathologies characterized by the frequent occurrence of intrusive thoughts. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 11th March, 2022. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/U8SJN .
Topics: Humans; Mindfulness; Cognition; Executive Function; Memory, Short-Term; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 37414828
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37447-9 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders May 2023Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common knee disorder that causes persistent pain, lower self-reported function and quality of life. People with PFP also present with...
Effects of an online program including mindfulness, exercise therapy and patient education compared to online exercise therapy and patient education for people with Patellofemoral Pain: protocol for a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common knee disorder that causes persistent pain, lower self-reported function and quality of life. People with PFP also present with altered psychological factors, which are associated with higher levels of pain and dysfunction. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) generally consist of meditative practices developed to provide a holistic approach to chronic conditions. However, the effects of MBI on clinical and psychological outcomes for people with PFP remains understudied.
METHODS
This assessor-blinded, parallel, two-arm randomized clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of adding an 8-week online MBI program to exercise therapy and patient education on clinical and psychological factors for people with PFP. We also aim to investigate whether psychological factors mediate changes in pain and function. Sixty-two participants with PFP will be recruited and randomized into one of two treatment groups (Mindfulness or Control group). Both groups will receive an 8-week intervention involving exercise therapy and education delivered through an online platform. The Mindfulness group will additionally receive a MBI component including formal and informal practices. Outcomes will be assessed online at baseline, intervention endpoint (follow-up 1) and 12 months after intervention completion (follow-up 2). Comparisons between groups will be performed at all time points with linear mixed models. A mediation analysis will be performed using a 3-variable framework.
DISCUSSION
Exercise therapy and patient education are considered the "best management" options for PFP. However, unsatisfactory long-term prognosis remains an issue. It is known that people with PFP present with altered psychological factors, which should be considered during the evaluation and treatment of people with PFP. Adding a MBI to the current best treatment for PFP may improve short and long-term effects by addressing the underlying psychological factors.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC) RBR-4yhbqwk, registered in April 6, 2021.
Topics: Humans; Exercise Therapy; Mindfulness; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Patient Education as Topic; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37170262
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06491-x -
BMC Palliative Care Apr 2023Palliative care teams work under challenging conditions in a sensitive setting with difficult tasks. The multi-professional team can play an important role. Mindfulness... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND
Palliative care teams work under challenging conditions in a sensitive setting with difficult tasks. The multi-professional team can play an important role. Mindfulness and compassion-based practices are used to build resilience. Our aim was to examine (1) feasibility and acceptability, (2) satisfaction and impact, and (3) opportunities and limitations of a mindfulness course.
METHODS
An eight-week mindfulness and compassion course was delivered in a university-based specialized palliative care unit. A meditation teacher provided preparatory evening sessions and meditation exercises that could be integrated into daily activities. The scientific analysis of the course was based on a questionnaire developed for quality assessmentThe first two parts consisted of demographic, Likert-type, and free-text items. Part 3 consisted of learning objectives that were self-assessed after finishing the course (post-then). In the analysis, we used descriptive statistics, qualitative content analysis, and comparative self-assessment.
RESULTS
Twenty four employees participated. 58% of participants attended 4 or more of the 7 voluntary mindfulness days. 91% expressed moderate to high satisfaction and would recommend the palliative care program to others. Three main categories emerged in the qualitative content analysis: providing feedback on the course, personal impact, and impact on professional life. The opportunity for self-care in a professional context was highlighted. Learning gains (CSA Gain) were high (38.5-49.4%) in terms of knowledge and techniques, moderate (26.2-34.5%) in terms of implementation of learned skills, and rather low (12.7-24.6%) in terms of changes to attitude.
CONCLUSION
Our evaluation shows that the participants of a mindfulness and compassion course considered it as a feasible and welcome tool to familiarize a multi-professional palliative care team with self-care techniques.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Internal Clinical Trial Register of the Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, No. 2018074763 (registered retrospectively on 30 July 2018).
Topics: Humans; Empathy; Mindfulness; Palliative Care; Retrospective Studies; Self-Assessment; Self Care
PubMed: 37032372
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01158-9 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Aug 2019The previous two decades have seen an exponential increase in the number of published scientific investigations on the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction... (Review)
Review
The previous two decades have seen an exponential increase in the number of published scientific investigations on the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training to improve function in a wide range of physical and psychological processes. The resulting body of work provides strong evidence that MBSR has salubrious effects. Yet, when compared directly to groups with training that matches MBSR in factors common to most legitimate interventions, such as learning new skills, expectation of benefit, social engagement and support, and attention from expert instructors, both groups tend to improve to a similar extent. This raises the question of whether there are benefits that are specific to training in mindfulness and if so, why are we not detecting them? Here, we discuss the factors that contribute to the general lack of differentiation between MBSR and active control groups, including the specificity of outcome measures and experimental design, random assignment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the time course and trajectory of change. In addition, we offer recommendations to address these factors in future research.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Humans; Mindfulness; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Research Design; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 30739006
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.12.022