Examining the Efficacy of a Brief Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Brief MBSR) Program on Psychological Health

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine potential psychological health benefits of participating in a brief (5-week) mindfulness-based stress reduction (brief MBSR) program integrated into an academic course. Participants: Participants were 119 undergraduate students (treatment: n = 72; control: n = 47) enrolled in elective academic courses on addictive behaviors, between January 2010 and May 2012. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design comparing changes in psychological health between brief MBSR treatment and parallel control groups. Baseline and follow-up data were collected synchronously across semesters for both groups. Results: Analysis of covariance revealed significant improvements in psychological health, measured by mindfulness (Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale: p ≤ .001; Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Scale: p ≤ .001) and self-compassion (Self-compassion Scale: p ≤ .001), among brief MBSR participants compared with the parallel control cohort. Significant reductions in trait anxiety were not evident. Conclusions: Brief MBSR programs can improve psychological health; however, longer MBSR programs may be needed to improve psychological distress, such as trait anxiety.     

Recovery during a short period of respite: The interactive roles of mindfulness and respite experiences

Abstract

Work-induced exhaustion and diminished vigour require recovery periods to offset future deleterious consequences for mental and physical health. It is therefore important to understand the factors that effect recovery. This study sought insight into the roles of the personal trait of mindfulness (which refers to paying attention to present experiences) and situational circumstances (respite experiences) that facilitate recovery during a short period of respite, expressed in decreased exhaustion and increased vigour. Two hundred nursing employees from 27 units of a hospital in the northern part of Israel responded to three sets of questionnaires before, during and after two-day periods of respite. Results showed that the nurses' level of exhaustion decreased and level of vigour increased after the short respite, indicating a successful recovery. Mixed Linear Model analyses identified the nature of respite activities and experiences (fewer non-work hassles and relaxation) and mindfulness as crucial catalysts of the recovery process. Mindfulness moderated the effects of non-work hassles and relaxation experiences on the levels of exhaustion and vigour after the short respites. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings for the recovery process are discussed.     

The Benefits of Dispositional Mindfulness in Physical Health: A Longitudinal Study of Female College Students

Abstract

Objective: This article examines the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, health behaviors (eg, sleep, eating, and exercise), and physical health. Participants: Participants included 441 college women. Methods: Women completed self-report surveys at the beginning and end of a 10-week academic quarter. The study was conducted over 5 academic quarters from fall 2008 to fall 2010. Results: Findings indicated that higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were related to healthier eating practices, better quality of sleep, and better physical health. Dispositional mindfulness contributed to better physical health even after controlling for traditional health habits. Finally, bidirectional mediational relationships were found between healthy eating and dispositional mindfulness as well as between sleep quality and dispositional mindfulness when physical health was the outcome variable. Conclusions: Findings suggest that incorporating mindfulness training into programming on college campuses may be beneficial, as results indicate that dispositional mindfulness is related to positive physical health among college students.     

Facilitating Arts-Based Mindfulness Group Activities with Vulnerable Children: An Example of Nondeliberative Social Group Work Practice

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the process of facilitating arts-based mindfulness group work and activities with vulnerable children age 8 to 12 years who were involved with the child welfare or mental health systems. Specifically, it delineates connections between our group program and Norma Lang’s nondeliberative social group work practice. Importantly, in working with vulnerable children, the authors purposefully fostered the development of mutual aid, creativity, and strengths and recognized that each group had a life of its own.     

乡村幼儿园教师社会情感线上正念干预方案设计及其实施效果

社会情感能力对促进乡村幼儿园教师个体专业成长及儿童社会情感发展的重要性日渐凸显。本研究招募82名乡村幼儿园教师为研究对象,对其中干预组（N=40）实施为期六周的线上正念干预课程,并通过混合研究方法考察干预效果。量化分析结果表明,乡村幼儿园教师社会情感能力和职业倦怠的测试时间与组别交互作用显著。线上正念干预课程显著提高了干预组幼儿园教师社会情感能力,并且职业倦怠水平显著下降。此外,质性研究结果进一步支持了正念干预能够有效促进乡村幼儿园教师自我认知、情绪管理、理解与共情以及负责任地决策等方面的发展。本研究证实基于正念的线上课程是培育乡村幼儿园教师社会情感能力和减缓职业倦怠经济而有效的重要途径。因此可借助“互联网+教育”模式,为乡村幼儿园教师提供线上心理健康培育资源和教练指导;合理设计线上正念干预课程内容及实施过程,以促进其社会情感能力发展。     

大班幼儿数学区域活动中专注力现状及特点分析

专注力是幼儿重要的学习品质，幼儿在数学活动中的投入程度会影响其早期数学经验的习得。以数学区域为媒介，运用 观察法对60 名幼儿独自与合作活动中专注力的思考、伴随语言、抗干扰与注意分散行为进行统计，并结合访谈法收集质性资 料。研究发现：幼儿专注力总体表现较好；存在显著性别差异，女孩伴随语言能力均高于男孩，男孩专注的消极行为则多于女 孩；情境差异中，独自活动产生更多与材料互动的思考行为，共同操作时有声语言的频次更高。     

Cultivating Compassion for Self and Others: A School-Based Pilot Study for Peer-Nominated Caring Adolescents

Many have called for school-based student programs that teach skills related to self-care and caring for others. Here, such a program for peer-nominated adolescents was developed and piloted virtually at one high school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of a longitudinal, quasi-experimental evaluation of the program showed high-quality program implementation and promising program impacts. Effect sizes indicated moderate to large program impacts on improvements in adolescents' self-compassion, sense of interdependence, and perspective-taking, and female adolescents' interoceptive awareness, compared to controls. No group differences in compassion for others were found. The need for more research on programs that help adolescents balance compassion for the self and for others is discussed.     

幼儿教师正念与情绪劳动的关系研究

本研究以5所幼儿园的120名幼儿教师为研究对象,采用正念五因素量表和情绪劳动量表为研究工具,探究幼儿教师正念与情绪劳动的关系。结果发现幼儿教师正念的各个维度之间具有不均衡性,其中有觉知的行动得分最高,不判断得分最低;幼儿教师情绪劳动中自然行为得分最高,表层行为得分最低。不同年龄班的幼儿教师情绪劳动得分存在显著差异,大班幼儿教师情绪劳动显著高于中班幼儿教师;不同正念水平的幼儿教师之间情绪劳动存在显著差异,高正念水平的幼儿教师和中等正念水平的幼儿教师使用自然行为显著多于低正念水平的幼儿教师,高正念水平的幼儿教师使用深层行为显著多于低正念水平的幼儿教师;正念与自然行为、深层行为存在显著相关,正念对情绪劳动的自然行为预测效应为8.8%,正念对情绪劳动的深层行为预测效应为7.1%。     

大学生正念对网络成瘾的影响：经验回避和冗思的链式中介效应

网络成瘾在现阶段大学生群体中的问题日益凸显。为探究正念、经验回避、冗思与大学生网络成瘾的关系及其内部作用 机制，对山东省十余所高校的1011 名大学生进行问卷调查。结果发现：大学生正念与经验回避、冗思、网络成瘾均呈显著负相 关，经验回避与冗思、网络成瘾均呈显著正相关，冗思与网络成瘾呈显著正相关；大学生正念显著负向预测网络成瘾，并通过经 验回避与冗思的链式中介作用影响其网络成瘾。对大学生群体的教育建议是：加强正念训练，提升积极心理品质；降低经验回 避，提升心理弹性水平；减少冗思困扰，提升心理适应能力。