Meditation, used initially as a vehicle for self-discovery and attainment of enlightenment, is today a tool for well-being among the general public and has even found its way into the clinical milieu. Meditation is challenging term to define and the variety of meditation practices, all with their own aims, pose a problem in terms of scientific understanding. A better sense of how these practices compare will help both general public and neuroscientists. Here, two of the fundamental practices originating from Buddhist tradition, focused attention (FA) and open monitoring (OM) meditation are compared. FA meditation activates mainly right medial/lateral PFC, parts of the limbic system and ACC. These regions help with sustaining attention and monitoring goal-conflicting distractors. FA deactivates parts of the default mode network (DMN), responsible for non-task specific processes and mind wandering. OM meditation reduces pain by top-down regulation of the limbic system. OM engages left fronto-parietal and insular regions, which help with conscious access of thoughts and emotions. OM seems to affect parts of the DMN. The thalamus is involved in both practices, where it helps to relay sensory signals in accordance with the different aims of each practice. This thesis hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how two main categories of meditation compare concerning their neural correlates.

Purpose: This study explored therapeutic processes associated with developing a course for patients with persistent pain which integrated osteopathic treatment with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This 'third wave’ cognitive behavioural approach is effective for a range of physical and psychological problems, including persistent pain, and congruent with osteopathic principles of holism, function and agency, which provided a theoretical basis for developing an integrated intervention to promote resilience and well-being. A qualitative case study was conducted as part of a developmental research programme to explore how ACT could be integrated with osteopathic treatment for individual patients, and with what effects on processes and outcomes. Method: Linguistic ethnography was used to explore links between pain-related discourses, clinical decisions and responses to pain. Treatments were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. Extracts referring to discourses about pain experienced during manual therapy were subjected to micro-level conversation analysis, sociolinguistic analysis of participants’ roles, and macro-level analysis of links to broader healthcare discourses. A reflective diary was used to explore experiential learning and integrate auto-ethnographic information. Results: Two distinctive forms of mechanistic and facilitative pain discourse were identified. In predominantly mechanistic discourses, agency and expertise were located with the osteopath, and intention was focused on fixing ‘broken’ parts and relieving pain using ‘familiar’ osteopathic techniques. In facilitative discourses, the osteopath adopted a more collaborative role, focused on developing the patient's body and self-awareness to promote more flexible, active pain responses. Practitioner challenges included learning how to shift intention between mechanistic and facilitative interventions, a process that was enabled by mindfulness and willingness to tolerate uncertainty. Conclusions: In this study, ACT-informed osteopathy involved facilitative discourses, associated with increased patient agency and flexibility in response to pain. Further research is needed to explore whether this pattern of discourse is robust in other clinical settings; relationships between mechanistic and facilitative discourses and therapeutic outcomes; and effects of ACT training on practitioner mindfulness and attitude towards clinical uncertainty. Findings suggest that this integrated approach could expand the scope of osteopathic care for patients with persistent pain, and is worth further investigation.

The aim of this study was to present and understand therapists’ experiences of the impact of their mindfulness meditation practice on their role in the therapeutic alliance. The topic emerged in response to extant research recommendations and researcher observations of the compatibility between mindfulness meditation outcomes and the demands on therapists for establishing effective alliances with clients. The study adopted an interpretive phenomenological analysis strategy located within the qualitative paradigm, and thus a small sample of therapists practicing mindfulness meditation were selected and interviewed on their experiences using semi-structured interviewing. Data were analysed for meaning units, which were then interpreted inductively and hermeneutically and categorized into superordinate themes. Three superordinate themes within participants’ experiences of how their mindfulness meditation practice impacts upon their role in the alliance were determined, namely: ‘self-care’; ‘insight into the structure of selfhood’; and ‘immediate mindfulness meditation during therapy’. This study found these experiences capacitated participants with compassionate interpersonal affects used for creating secure bonds with clients; skills for accurate empathic understanding; and skills and attitudes for working collaboratively with clients. Should future research confirm these findings, mindfulness meditation may be used as a tool to developed alliance formation abilities for therapists in training. Importantly, findings from this project called for a more comprehensive integration of theoretical positions on the construct of mindfulness meditation.

Bakgrund Vid år 2020 så beräknas depression att utgöra den näst största sjukdomsbördan i världen. Rådande situation ställer nya krav på vården och sjuksköterskan att lindra psykisk ohälsa. Nuvarande standardbehandling för depression och ångest utgörs av farmakologisk behandling samt olika former av psykoterapi, emedan ett växande antal studier påvisar behandlingseffekt av mindfulness. Väsentliga frågetecken om hur och när mindfulness har behandlingseffekt kvarstår emellertid, vilket föranleder ytterligare forskning inom området. Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar effekten av mindfulness hos personer med depression och/eller ångest. Metod En allmän litteraturöversikt användes som metod i denna studie för att bearbeta och sammanställa en del av tidigare forskning. Datainsamling i form av artikelsökning genomfördes i CINAHL, PubMed och PsychINFO. Innehållsanalys utfördes på 15 vetenskapliga artiklar och fyra teman identifierades. Resultat Resultatet uppvisade att mindfulness har behandlingseffekt vid depression och/eller ångest, varvid fyra faktorer som påverkade behandlingseffekten identifierades. Faktorerna var följande: individuell motivation, diagnos, samverkan med andra behandlingar samt kompetens bland pedagoger. Individuell motivation påverkade behandlingseffekten mest. Slutsats Mindfulness uppvisade behandlingseffekt vid depression och/eller ångest, emedan fyra faktorer påverkade behandlingseffekten: individuell motivation, diagnos, samverkan med andra behandlingar samt kompetens bland pedagoger. Individuell motivation påverkade behandlingseffekten mest, då mindfulness ställer väsentliga krav på mobilisering av egna resurser. Utökad forskning krävs för att bättre kartlägga behandlingseffekten vid specifika tillstånd samt vid specifik behandlingslängd.

Este estudo investigou a relação entre o tempo de prática de meditação e o bem-estar psicológico, controlando para traços de personalidade, assim como a experiência subjetiva dos meditadores acerca dos efeitos de sua prática no seu cotidiano. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de Saúde Geral de Goldberg, a Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade e um Questionário Sociodemográfico contendo uma pergunta aberta sobre a percepção dos efeitos da meditação e itens para definição operacional de meditação. A amostra, selecionada por conveniência, constituiu-se de praticantes da meditação passiva - sentada e silenciosa - cuja experiência variou entre um e 420 meses. Os resultados obtidos através das análises de conteúdo quantitativa, de regressão linear múltipla e regressão de Poisson foram convergentes, indicando que a prática meditativa pode produzir efeitos psicológicos positivos. Foi observado que quanto maior o tempo em meses e a freqüência semanal da prática, maior o bem-estar psicológico. Também foi verificada uma interação entre meses e freqüência semanal, sugerindo que para as pessoas que meditam 6/7 vezes por semana, os escores de bem-estar psicológico não diferiram estatisticamente entre os praticantes considerados iniciantes, intermediários e avançados. Extroversão, neuroticismo e realização são os traços de personalidade que possivelmente mediaram o efeito da meditação sobre o bem-estar, sendo que o primeiro teve uma associação positiva com o desfecho e os dois últimos uma associação negativa. Além disso, a experiência subjetiva da prática de meditação, segundo os participantes desta pesquisa, se reflete predominantemente na percepção de benefícios cognitivos e emocionais. Estes achados corroboram outros estudos e apóiam a idéia de que a meditação pode ser uma ferramenta para o cultivo do bem-estar. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados no Brasil e que a prática meditativa pode ser considerada uma ferramenta útil para o contexto clínico em saúde mental. / This study investigated the relationship between the length of experience in meditation practice and psychological well-being, controlling for personality traits, as well as the subjective experience of meditators concerning the effects of their practice on their daily lives. The instruments used were the General Health Questionnaire, the Factorial Battery of Personality and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire containing an open question about the perception of the meditation effects and the items for the operational definition of meditation. The sample was selected by convenience and comprised of passive meditation practitioners - sitting and silent - whose experience varied from one to 420 months. The results obtained through quantitative content analyses, multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were convergent, indicating that the meditation practice can promote positive psychological effects. It has been observed that the greater the number of months and the weekly frequency, the greater the psychological well-being. An interaction between number of months and weekly frequency has also been observed, suggesting that for those people who meditate 6/7 times a week, the psychological well-being score did not differ among practitioners considered beginners, intermediate and advanced. Extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness were the personality traits that possibly mediated the effect of meditation on well-being. The first one was positively associated with the outcome, and the other two were negatively associated. In addition, the subjective experience of the meditation practice, according to the participants of the present research, reflects predominantly cognitive and emotional benefits. These findings corroborate other studies and give support to the idea that meditation can be a tool for cultivating wellbeing. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out in Brazil and that the practice can be considered a useful tool for clinical and mental health contexts.

Mindfulness exercises have been reported to increase performance for a number of different populations; however there are no reports that have investigated the effects of brief mindfulness exercises on data collection. This study will exposed participants to a brief mindfulness exercise and subsequently measure participants’ ability to accurately take data on high rate behavior. A concurrent multiple baseline design was used with three participants. During baseline phases participants recorded data on the occurrence of congruent and incongruent stimuli within a Stroop presentation. Treatment phases contained a brief mindful eating video and then participants completed the Stroop presentation. Data sheets completed by the participants were scored for overall accuracy, as well as accuracy for congruent and incongruent stimuli. Participants completed a Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at the end of all sessions. Results indicated that MAAS scores increased during mindfulness sessions for all participants when compared to baseline phases. Overall accuracy as well as accuracy for congruent and incongruent stimuli in the Stroop presentation increased for all three participants compared to baseline sessions. The findings from this research have potential applications for improving performance for data collection methods and increasing self-reported mindfulness.

Due to its negative relation with turnover and the associated costs, job stress is a growing concern within the healthcare industry. By surveying 461 employees of a large Midwestern healthcare system, the present study evaluated perceptions of citizenship pressure (perceived pressure to engage in extra-role job duties) and examined its relationship with job stress and turnover intentions. The sample consisted of direct and indirect patient care providers and was predominately White, females who worked full-time. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that job stress partially mediates the direct relationship between citizenship pressure and turnover intentions. Specifically, healthcare workers experience job stress and desire leaving positions that make them feel that simply fulfilling their formally prescribed job duties is not enough to be seen as a good employee. Drawing from the theoretical model of psychological resilience, the current study also examined whether employees’ level of trait mindfulness (tendency to focus on experiences without judgment) moderates the identified mediation. Findings from a first- and second-stage moderated mediation analysis suggested that trait mindfulness does not buffer the negative outcomes (i.e., job stress, turnover intentions) associated with citizenship pressure within the healthcare industry. Despite the non-significant results related to mindfulness, significant negative relationships were found between trait mindfulness and each key construct (i.e., citizenship pressure, job stress, turnover intentions). Such findings demonstrate the potential relevance of trait mindfulness in promoting employee resilience within the workplace. Results also contribute to the citizenship pressure literature and highlight the need for additional research, especially within the healthcare industry.

The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship among psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and goal-directed behaviors controlled by executive function, as measured by the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y), the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), and the Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI). Participants completed the AFQ-Y, CAMM, and CEFI as part of a Midwestern alternative school’s curriculum. Data was collected for 30 participants (male = 28, female = 2) with approval from the school. The results indicate a significant relationship between the AFQ-Y and CAMM (r = -0.7711, p < 0.0001), CAMM and CEFI (r = -0.3226; p = 0.0821), AFQ-Y and the emotion regulation subscale (r = -0.5018; p = 0.0047), as well as the working memory subscale of the CEFI (r = -0.3622; p = 0.0492), and the CAMM and the emotion regulation subscale (r = 0.494; p = 0.0055), organization subscale (r = 0.3723; p = 0.0427), and working memory subscale (r = 0.4725; p = 0.0084). The results are beneficial for clinicians who specialize in providing treatment to children and adolescents with development disabilities and various other disorders. Limitations and future research are also discussed within the current study.

The present study sought to investigate the effects of meditation practice on the neural mechanisms of attention and self-monitoring by comparing a group of experienced meditators to matched controls. Self-report measures of mindfulness and self-compassion were assessed to examine whether meditation-related improvements in attention and self-monitoring were linked to increases in these qualities. Thus, differences between groups (meditator versus control) on all variables and relationships among variables (attention, self-monitoring, self-compassion, and mindfulness) were explored. Results indicate that individuals with meditation experience showed enhancement in neural networks related to selective attention and attentional allocation, as evidenced by larger P1/N1 and P3b amplitudes, relative to controls. Meditators also showed improved self-monitoring of their errors, as indexed by enhanced Pe amplitudes, when compared to controls. Importantly, greater number of years of meditation experience was linked to larger Pe amplitudes, providing evidence that more practice with meditation was associated with greater error awareness. At the same time, meditators showed greater levels of mindfulness and self-compassion when compared to controls. Importantly, each of the neural indices was linked to greater levels of mindfulness and self-compassion. Specifically, self-kindness was correlated with each of these ERP components and to percentage of alpha power during meditation, and the mindfulness facet of observing fully mediated the relationship between meditation experience and P1 amplitudes. These findings suggest that the qualities that are enhanced with meditation are associated with enhancements in attentional control and awareness of errors. This study is an exciting step toward future intervention studies that combine multiple sources of information (self-report, neural measures, and behavior) to clarify the nature of the associations among these variables so that the mechanisms of mindfulness can be more fully understood.

Este estudo investigou a relação entre o tempo de prática de meditação e o bem-estar psicológico, controlando para traços de personalidade, assim como a experiência subjetiva dos meditadores acerca dos efeitos de sua prática no seu cotidiano. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de Saúde Geral de Goldberg, a Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade e um Questionário Sociodemográfico contendo uma pergunta aberta sobre a percepção dos efeitos da meditação e itens para definição operacional de meditação. A amostra, selecionada por conveniência, constituiu-se de praticantes da meditação passiva - sentada e silenciosa - cuja experiência variou entre um e 420 meses. Os resultados obtidos através das análises de conteúdo quantitativa, de regressão linear múltipla e regressão de Poisson foram convergentes, indicando que a prática meditativa pode produzir efeitos psicológicos positivos. Foi observado que quanto maior o tempo em meses e a freqüência semanal da prática, maior o bem-estar psicológico. Também foi verificada uma interação entre meses e freqüência semanal, sugerindo que para as pessoas que meditam 6/7 vezes por semana, os escores de bem-estar psicológico não diferiram estatisticamente entre os praticantes considerados iniciantes, intermediários e avançados. Extroversão, neuroticismo e realização são os traços de personalidade que possivelmente mediaram o efeito da meditação sobre o bem-estar, sendo que o primeiro teve uma associação positiva com o desfecho e os dois últimos uma associação negativa. Além disso, a experiência subjetiva da prática de meditação, segundo os participantes desta pesquisa, se reflete predominantemente na percepção de benefícios cognitivos e emocionais. Estes achados corroboram outros estudos e apóiam a idéia de que a meditação pode ser uma ferramenta para o cultivo do bem-estar. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados no Brasil e que a prática meditativa pode ser considerada uma ferramenta útil para o contexto clínico em saúde mental. / This study investigated the relationship between the length of experience in meditation practice and psychological well-being, controlling for personality traits, as well as the subjective experience of meditators concerning the effects of their practice on their daily lives. The instruments used were the General Health Questionnaire, the Factorial Battery of Personality and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire containing an open question about the perception of the meditation effects and the items for the operational definition of meditation. The sample was selected by convenience and comprised of passive meditation practitioners - sitting and silent - whose experience varied from one to 420 months. The results obtained through quantitative content analyses, multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were convergent, indicating that the meditation practice can promote positive psychological effects. It has been observed that the greater the number of months and the weekly frequency, the greater the psychological well-being. An interaction between number of months and weekly frequency has also been observed, suggesting that for those people who meditate 6/7 times a week, the psychological well-being score did not differ among practitioners considered beginners, intermediate and advanced. Extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness were the personality traits that possibly mediated the effect of meditation on well-being. The first one was positively associated with the outcome, and the other two were negatively associated. In addition, the subjective experience of the meditation practice, according to the participants of the present research, reflects predominantly cognitive and emotional benefits. These findings corroborate other studies and give support to the idea that meditation can be a tool for cultivating wellbeing. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out in Brazil and that the practice can be considered a useful tool for clinical and mental health contexts.