Mindfulness has been found to enhance romantic relationships through the practice of remaining open, calm, and emotionally regulated during times of struggle. There was a gap in the literature, however, related to how the practice of mindfulness is subjectively experienced in women's romantic relationships. The purpose of this heuristic study was to understand how women's practice of mindfulness effects their romantic relationships. The conceptual framework for this study was mindfulness-to-meaning theory, which highlights that wellbeing is supported through 2 main mechanisms of mindfulness: savoring and reappraisal. The nature of this study was a qualitative approach using Moustakas's heuristic method. After the data were collected through semistructured interviews, 6 themes were identified. The themes were (a) heightened presence in the relationship; (b) enhanced emotional regulation within the relationship; (c) expanded awareness in the relationship; (d) stronger connection to self and partner; (e) increased gratitude for self, partner, and their shared life; and (f) continued growth in the relationship. Women identified feeling a sense of enhanced emotional regulation within the relationship which enables them to remain calm, less reactive, and better able to communicate with their partners during times of difficulty. The findings from this study confirmed and expanded previous research. This study may enhance understanding of how mindfulness may lead to deeper connection and stability in romantic relationships. By doing so, this study may also contribute to positive social change by informing the work of those in the wellness industry who provide support to women.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mindful eating and eating pathology. This was accomplished by using two measures, the Eating Disorder Inventory, Third Edition (EDI-3), and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). Participants included in this study were 134 students from a midsized mid-south university who were asked to complete a demographics measure, EDI-3, and MEQ. Only three scales from the EDI-3 were considered; Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction. Combined they provide an Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC) score. Results indicated that there was no significant relationship between the MEQ overall score and the EDRC score, which implies that there is no relationship between mindful eating and eating pathology, specifically eating disorder risk. Additional analyses revealed significant negative correlations between the Awareness, Disinhibition, and Emotional Response subscales of the MEQ and the EDRC score. This study contributes to the limited research on the relationship between mindful eating and eating pathology. Results from this study indicate that the specific aforementioned factors have a greater impact on eating pathology when compared to the overall concept of mindfulness.

Mindfulness has recently gained attention within work contexts. Mindfulness training interventions (e.g., mindfulness-based stress reduction; MBSR) are commonly implemented for employees within organizations. Mindfulness has been associated with multiple employee performance, relational, and well-being outcomes. Although mindfulness has become a popular practice within organizations, empirical research falls behind and has not explored many potential research avenues. As leaders play influential roles within organizations, mindfulness may influence leader behaviors, to an extent that leader mindfulness affects employees. This study examined the relationship between supervisor mindfulness and leader-member exchange (LMX), which entails quality of mutual support, trust, and respect within supervisor-subordinate relationships. In addition, the proposed study sought to empirically support proposed theoretical frameworks by examining affective, cognitive, and behavioral mechanisms of empathic concern, perspective taking, and response flexibility, as mediators in the supervisor mindfulness-LMX relationship. Supervisor workload was also examined as a moderator to assess conditions under which the supervisor mindfulness-LMX relationship exists. A sample of 202 individuals who currently supervise employees was collected using the online survey platform, Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Two approaches towards mediation provided support for the mediating roles of empathic concern and response flexibility in the relationship between supervisor mindfulness and LMX. Theoretical and practical contributions, as well as limitations and future directions are discussed.

Acting Mindfully, is a form of embodiment pedagogy that investigates the ways in which actors can explore their craft through a lens that connects them closer to their mind, body, and voice. The document draws content from a wide variety of theatrical movement and vocal practitioners in combination with mindfulness techniques including yoga, meditation, and energy work. Embodiment pedagogy allows the acting student to approach and perform scenes and monologues with truth and authenticity; while allowing them the ability to tell their own stories. In order to explore this work, a course, Acting and Mindfulness, was introduced at Virginia Commonwealth University as an experimental way to begin to connect students to their artistic work in a mindful way. This document includes research, as well as a mindful acting curriculum, that make connections to embodiment pedagogy.

ABSTRACT The ability to regulate attention is a key function of several cognitive activities, especially mindfulness and working memory capacity (WMC). In each moment, we are bombarded with both relevant and irrelevant sensory information in our immediate environment, and attentional control is needed to minimize distractions and maximize productivity. Attentional control plays an important role in the practice and embodiment of mindfulness, but it also functions with WMC in similar ways. Both mindfulness and WMC require the individual to regulate his or her attention in such a way that new information can be incorporated and old information, if relevant, can be maintained. In order to further understand the underlying attentional control mechanisms pertaining to mindfulness and WMC, we utilized a component of electroencephalographic response data known as the mismatch negativity (MMN), which provides information about automatic attention orienting. Participants completed a mindfulness survey, spatial (SSPAN) and verbal (OSPAN) WMC tests, and were recorded on EEG while watching a silent movie and listening to tones that changed in frequency. We expected mindful individuals and individuals with high WMC to exhibit larger MMN amplitudes than less mindful and low WMC individuals. We also expected a positive correlation between mindfulness and WMC due to their similar functionalities. Our results showed that mindful individuals actually exhibit smaller MMN amplitudes, and there was no correlation between mindfulness and WMC. Our results also showed a positive correlation between SSPAN and the response to the frequency change. / acase@tulane.edu

A large body of research has examined the appropriate time course of psychotherapy across a variety of therapeutic modalities. Research in the area of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has indicated the efficacy of single-session interventions in improving anxiety, depression, and even weight loss. These findings, though promising, are accompanied by the question of how much ACT is enough to make a statistically and clinically significant difference in symptoms. The present study sought to clarify this question among individuals with depression. Adults (N = 271) with elevated depressive symptoms were recruited via mass emails for a study comparing the relative effectiveness of time-variant single-session ACT interventions (90 minutes, 3 hours, 6 hours). Inclusion criteria included PHQ-8 score 10, no history of TBI, no current psychotherapy, and no medication changes in the past 60 days. Eligible participants completed a screening interview, which included modules from the M.I.N.I. Exclusion criteria included active suicidality, past or current mania, and past or current psychoses. If interested in participating (n=351), eligible participants could complete the baseline measure after enrolling in the study. Participants were randomized to a single-session 90-minute, 3-hour, or 6-hour group ACT intervention. About half (51.2%) of enrolled and randomized participants completed their assigned group intervention. Follow-up assessments were completed at 1-month and 3-months post-intervention with limited attrition. Longitudinal mixed-effects modeling was used to examine change over time and between conditions. Findings indicated that depressive symptoms and avoidance decreased over time, and social satisfaction increased over time. Differences between conditions and interactions between time and condition were not observed. Equivalency analyses revealed that the 3- and 6-hour groups were not within the margin of equivalence in terms of depressive symptoms. Mindfulness analyses revealed that at 3-month follow-up, the 3- and 6-hour groups reported higher mindfulness than the 90-minute group. The findings have public health implications in terms of reaching a larger number of patients with increased efficiency. Given the far greater patient demand than number of therapists available, increased access and efficiency are of great importance. The results also suggest that individuals with depression can make rapid, sustainable changes, and this is of critical importance clinically. Limitations included a homogenous sample of primarily white, highly educated females, and the lack of a no-treatment control group. The findings of the current study indicate that brief group ACT interventions can result in change in both processes (avoidance, mindfulness) and functioning (depressive symptoms, social satisfaction) months after the single-session intervention. Future research should examine the effectiveness of brief interventions with other symptomatology as compared to a no-treatment control or a more traditional course of psychotherapy.

Mindfulness engagement has become increasingly popular in therapeutic settings and is promising in terms of possibly reducing physical and mental health symptoms among a wide variety of clients (including college students) presenting diverse diagnoses. While a number of studies suggest that mindfulness interventions increase mindfulness ability, this assertion has not been validated because many researchers utilizing a mindfulness intervention fail to include measures assessing change in trait mindfulness ability. The present study examined mindfulness engagement and trait mindfulness, as well as physical and mental health correlates of trait mindfulness, in 300 college students (74% female) via an online survey. Mindfulness ability in this general college population was similar to the overall mindfulness ability in the general population. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported mindfulness engagement. Fifty-nine percent of the sample reported previous mindfulness engagement and only 32% of these individuals stated continued engagement. While no overall differences in trait mindfulness were found between respondents who had reported previous mindfulness and those who had not, individuals who spent more time in their mindfulness practice, also reported higher amounts of trait mindfulness ability. These data suggest that in order for these specific mindfulness engagements to impact trait mindfulness ability, a time engagement threshold must be met. A number of trait mindfulness variables were significantly related to a number of mental and physical health variables. However, relationships between trait mindfulness and health variables were not uniform. Multiple subscales from the Five Factor Mindfulness Scale (FFMQ) were significantly correlated with mental and physical health variables. There were few physical and mental health variables that were significantly correlated or suggested trends with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Increased cognitive symptoms of depression, yet nonclinically significant levels as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), were significantly positively related to increased levels of trait mindfulness ability. More efforts are needed, including, measurement of mindfulness throughout intervention, increased focus regarding the construct of mindfulness ability and novel forms for measurement, and the relationship between mindfulness ability measurement of mindfulness ability and specific mental and physical health variables.

Behavior analysts have had much success in affecting behavior change with individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities as well as those who would be considered typically developing with a variety of intervention strategies; most of which involve affecting direct acting contingencies. However, the realm of language-based psychopathology has just begun to be addressed within the field through language based, or indirect acting strategies. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is based on the concept of derived stimulus relations and allows for a behavior analytic treatment of language-based psychopathology. The current study was intended to test the efficacy of a brief protocol-delivered ACT intervention with individuals who smoke marijuana. Oral swab drug screens were the primary dependent variable, along with the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II). All six ACT components were taught to each subject using a set list of metaphors and exercises and was assessed using a concurrent/non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Results indicate that the brief protocol impacted levels of marijuana consumption with all three participants and that their self-reported levels of struggle (via the AAQ-II) lessened over the course of the training.

The relationship between stress and physical health has been well established in the medical and psychological literature. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that has been successfully used to reduce stress in several populations, and the construct itself has recently begun to be measured as a naturally occurring characteristic. A recent study demonstrating the significant relationships between mindfulness, stress, and physical health prompted the investigation in the present study of the possible mechanisms underlying these relationships. It was hypothesised that the relationship between mindfulness and physical health would be largely mediated by stress, and that in addition, mindfulness would explain a significant proportion of the variance in health after stress had been accounted for. Participants were 129 undergraduate students who completed a battery of self-report questionnaires including the Perceived Stress Scale, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey, and two recently developed measures of mindfulness; the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Perceived stress was shown to account for a large proportion of the relationship between mindfulness and health, and mindfulness was also shown to explain a significant proportion of the variance in physical health after stress had been controlled for. An additional finding was that acceptance demonstrated stronger relationships with both physical and mental health than any of the other components of mindfulness studied. Potential mechanisms of mindfulness that may help explain these findings are discussed.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Although the field of coaching psychology has witnessed some theoretical and empirical advances in recent years, this has yet to translate into a commonly accepted theoretical and empirical foundation for coaching practice. Rather, coaching practice has run well ahead of related theory and research, and resulted in the establishment of an industry that lacks firm foundations. This doctoral dissertation reports on a series of reviews and empirical studies designed to further the development of evidence-based coaching practice (EBCP). A review of the relevant literature revealed that the development of solid evidence-based foundations is critical if coaching is to realise its promise and potential. As events surrounding the decline of the human potential movement (HPM) in the 1960s and 1970s indicate, the absence of theoretically-based rationales and solid research support may be a reliable predictor of decline for particular treatment modalities. Whilst the development of EBCP has important implications for the formal preparation of coaches, pedagogical recommendations to industry educators are difficult whilst the characteristics of the coaching industry remain hidden. In order to develop the profile of the Australian coaching industry, a survey was conducted of 148 practicing coaches. The results of this study revealed the presence of a diverse local industry. Despite the existence of a small core of highly experienced practitioners, the majority of coaches appeared to have little coaching experience and greatly varied skills and experience. Interestingly, only 20% of respondents reported any formal training in psychology or the other helping professions. Given recent data that suggests mental health issues may sometimes be encountered in coaching (Green, Oades, & Grant, 2006; Spence & Grant, in press), it is concluded that the majority of coaches lack the skills and knowledge to identify and deal effectively with such eventualities. As the development of an informed strategy for dealing with mental health issues would move the practice of coaching onto a more professional footing, it is recommended that coaches receive basic training in the identification and appropriate referral of such issues. Much of the work presented in this dissertation is based on the presupposition that client outcomes can be optimised through the use of EBCP. However, as this assumption has yet to be empirically tested, a total of 63 participants took part in a 10-week life coaching program. The results showed that when life coaching was conducted by coaches trained in cognitive-behavioural solution-focused (CB-SF) coaching methods (i.e. professional coaching), as opposed to untrained peers (i.e. peer coaching), participants were more engaged in coaching and reported significantly greater goal attainment, goal commitment and environmental mastery. Effective goal-directed self-regulation requires that individuals remain focused on their goals overtime, whilst managing a steady stream of disturbances that can destabilise goal directed effort. In this regard, the construct of mindfulness has much conceptual relevance. Mindfulness reflects the unique human capacity for directing conscious awareness via the controlled deployment of attention. After an extensive review of the scholarly literature, three alternative conceptualisations are presented (i.e. Eastern religious, socio-cognitive and cognitive-attentional perspectives), accompanied by a description of the mindfulness skills training practices associated with each. A total of 72 participants then took part in a study to assess the impact of three mindfulness training (MT) programs on mindfulness, goal-directed self-regulation, mental health and wellbeing. The results revealed that all the MT programs were effective in significantly increasing mindfulness and a variety of mental health and wellbeing indicators. Importantly, MT was also found to significantly increase goal attainment; suggesting that MT may be a valuable addition to EBCP. Goal attainment is a key dependent variable in coaching research. However, the measurement of goal attainment has yet to receive much attention in the coaching literature. As most empirical coaching studies have reported findings based on measures that rely exclusively on subjective measures of performance (measures that are susceptible to several forms of distortion and bias), some key issues relating to the measurement of goal attainment are reviewed and explored in detail. From this review, goal attainment scaling (GAS) is identified as a potentially useful methodology with which both researchers and practitioners can document and evaluate coaching outcomes. The final study pulls together the threads from work presented to that point, and integrates them into a practice framework for coaching. A total of 42 participants took part in this study, which investigated the efficacy of using MT and CB-SF coaching to facilitate the attainment of health goals. The results showed that the delivery of MT prior to (rather than after) CB-SF coaching was more effective in facilitating these outcomes. This suggests MT may be important in coaching for helping people prepare for change.