Top

Gepubliceerd in:

27-03-2024 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Conceptualizations of Mindfulness Among Experienced Practitioners

Auteurs: Jonah Lustig, LeeAnn Cardaciotto, Simon Moon, Megan Spokas

Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 4/2024

Abstract

Objectives

Despite ongoing interest in the study of mindfulness, there remain differences in the way the construct is defined in research, with some questioning whether current definitions are reflective of experienced practitioners’ understandings, including those from Buddhist backgrounds. The present study sought to investigate how experienced mindfulness practitioners define mindfulness and how they evaluate 13 definitions of mindfulness found in research and historical sources.

Method

One hundred thirty-four participants, with an average of 20.3 years of mindfulness practice experience, completed an original online survey. Participants were first asked to provide their own definition of mindfulness in an open-ended format, then to evaluate how consistent 13 established research and historical definitions of mindfulness were with their own understanding. An exploratory mixed-methods data analytic approach was used to identify areas of agreement and disagreement between experienced practitioners’ and researchers’ conceptualizations.

Results

Results revealed common language used to describe mindfulness: Both experienced practitioners and the established definitions included terms such as attention, awareness, and present moment. On average, participants rated most of the definitions from research and historical sources as at least slightly consistent (5 out of 7 on a Likert scale) with their own understanding. Conceptual disagreements by the experienced practitioners were observed related to a possible overemphasis on present-moment focus, whether mindfulness is best conceptualized as a state and/or a trait, and Buddhist concepts which may be missing from researchers’ definitions.

Conclusions

While the present study demonstrated broad general agreement in understandings of mindfulness among experienced practitioners and researchers, future research is needed to account for specific differences in understandings to work toward more comprehensive operational definitions of mindfulness.

vorige artikel Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People Experiencing Psychosis: A Randomized Feasibility Study

volgende artikel Examining Mental Health Benefits of a Brief Online Mindfulness Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abbey, J. D., & Meloy, M. G. (2017). Attention by design: Using attention checks to detect inattentive respondents and improve data quality. Journal of Operations Management, 53, 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2017.06.001CrossRef

Alvear, D., Soler, J., & Cebolla, A. (2022). Meditators’ non-academic definition of mindfulness. Mindfulness, 13(6), 1544–1554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01899-3CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Babbie, E. (2021). Conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement. In E. Babbie (Ed.), The practice of social research. Cengage.

Baer, R. A. (2011). Measuring mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 241–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564842CrossRef

Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., & Allen, K. B. (2004). Assessment of mindfulness by self-report: The Kentucky inventory of mindfulness skills. Assessment, 11(3), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191104268029CrossRefPubMed

Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504CrossRefPubMed

Baer, R. A., Carmody, J., & Hunsinger, M. (2012). Weekly change in mindfulness and perceived stress in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(7), 755–765. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21865CrossRefPubMed

Belzer, F., Schmidt, S., Lucius-Hoene, G., Schneider, J. F., Orellana-Rios, C. L., & Sauer, S. (2013). Challenging the construct validity of mindfulness assessment—a cognitive interview study of the Freiburg mindfulness inventory. Mindfulness, 4(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0165-7CrossRef

Bergomi, C., Tschacher, W., & Kupper, Z. (2015). Meditation practice and self-reported mindfulness: A cross-sectional investigation of meditators and non-meditators using the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME). Mindfulness, 6(6), 1411–1421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0415-6CrossRef

Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. V., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bph077CrossRef

Bodhi, B. (2011). What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 19–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564813CrossRef

Bravo, A. J., Pearson, M. R., Wilson, A. D., & Witkiewitz, K. (2018). When traits match states: Examining the associations between self-report trait and state mindfulness following a state mindfulness induction. Mindfulness, 9(1), 199–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0763-5CrossRefPubMed

Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822CrossRefPubMed

Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18, 211–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701598298CrossRef

Cardaciotto, L., Herbert, J. D., Forman, E. M., Moitra, E., & Farrow, V. (2008). The assessment of present-moment awareness and acceptance: The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. Assessment, 15(2), 204–223. https://doi.org/10.1177/107319110731146CrossRefPubMed

Cheusheva, S. (2023). How to remove duplicates in Excel cell. Ablebits.com. https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/remove-duplicates-within-cell-excel/

Chiesa, A. (2013). The difficulty of defining mindfulness: Current thought and critical issues. Mindfulness, 4(3), 255–268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0123-4CrossRef

Christopher, M. S., Christopher, V., & Charoensuk, S. (2009). Assessing “Western” mindfulness among Thai Theravāda Buddhist monks. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 12(3), 303–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670802651487CrossRef

Christopher, M. S., Woodrich, L. E., & Tiernan, K. A. (2014). Using cognitive interviews to assess the cultural validity of state and trait measures of mindfulness among Zen Buddhists. Mindfulness, 5(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0160-zCrossRefPubMed

Dane, E. (2011). Paying attention to mindfulness and its effects on task performance in the workplace. Journal of Management, 37, 997–1018. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310367948CrossRef

Davidson, R. J. (2010). Empirical explorations of mindfulness: Conceptual and methodological conundrums. Emotion, 10(1), 8–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018480

Davidson, R. J., & Kaszniak, A. W. (2015). Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist, 70(7), 581–592. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039512CrossRefPubMed

Desbordes, G., Gard, T., Hoge, E. A., Hölzel, B. K., Kerr, C., Lazar, S. W., Olendzki, A., & Vago, D. R. (2015). Moving beyond mindfulness: Defining equanimity as an outcome measure in meditation and contemplative research. Mindfulness, 6(2), 356–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0269-8CrossRef

Dreyfus, G. (2011). Is mindfulness present-centered and non-judgmental? A discussion of the cognitive dimensions of mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564815CrossRef

Eberth, J., Sedlmeier, P., & Schäfer, T. (2019). PROMISE: A model of insight and equanimity as the key effects of mindfulness meditation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2389. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02389CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Feldman, G., Westine, M., Edelman, A., Higgs, M., Renna, M., & Greeson, J. (2022). Cognitive and affective mindfulness scale-revised (CAMS-R). In Handbook of assessment in mindfulness research (pp. 1–24). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77644-2_19-1CrossRef

Gethin, R. (2011). On some definitions of mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 263–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564843CrossRef

Goldstein, J., & Kornfield, J. (2001). Seeking the heart of wisdom: The path of insight meditation. Shambhala Publications.

Grossman, P. (2008). On measuring mindfulness in psychosomatic and psychological research. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64(4), 405–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.02.001CrossRefPubMed

Grossman, P. (2011). Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology’s (re) invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment, 23(4), 1034–1040. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022713CrossRefPubMed

Grossman, P. (2019). On the porosity of subject and object in ‘mindfulness’ scientific study: Challenges to ‘scientific’ construction, operationalization and measurement of mindfulness. Current Opinion in Psychology, 28, 102–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.008CrossRefPubMed

Grossman, P., & Van Dam, N. T. (2011). Mindfulness, by any other name…: Trials and tribulations of sati in Western psychology and science. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 219–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564841CrossRef

Gu, J., Strauss, C., Crane, C., Barnhofer, T., Karl, A., Cavanagh, K., & Kuyken, W. (2016). Examining the factor structure of the 39-item and 15-item versions of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people with recurrent depression. Psychological Assessment, 28(7), 791–802. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000263CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Hahn, T. N. (1976). The miracle of mindfulness. An introduction to the practice of meditation. Beacon Press.

Harvey, P. (2000). An introduction to Buddhist ethics: Foundations, values and issues. Cambridge University Press.CrossRef

Hayes, S. C. (2004). Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies. Behavior Therapy, 35(4), 639–665. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80013-3

Hick, S. F. (2009). Mindfulness and social work: Paying attention to ourselves, our clients, and society. In S. F. Hick (Ed.), Mindfulness and social work (pp. 1–30). Lyceum Books.CrossRef

Jones, P. (2023). Mindfulness and nondual well-being – what is the evidence that we can stay happy? Review of General Psychology, 27(2), 103–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/10892680221093013CrossRef

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: The program of the stress reduction clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. Dell Publishing.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Wherever you go there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness (2nd ed.). Bantham/Random House.

Kang, C., & Whittingham, K. (2010). Mindfulness: A dialogue between Buddhism and clinical psychology. Mindfulness, 1(3), 161–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-010-0018-1CrossRef

Krafft, J., Haeger, J., & Levin, M. E. (2017). The interaction of mindful awareness and acceptance in couples satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 113, 20–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.064CrossRef

Lau, M. A., Bishop, S. R., Segal, Z. V., Buis, T., Anderson, N. D., Carlson, L., Shapiro, S., Carmody, J., Abbey, S., & Devins, G. (2006). The Toronto Mindfulness Scale: Development and validation. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(12), 1445–1467. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20326CrossRefPubMed

Lindahl, J. R. (2015). Why right mindfulness might not be right for mindfulness. Mindfulness, 6(1), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0380-5CrossRef

Lindsay, E. K., Young, S., Smyth, J. M., Brown, K. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 87, 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.015CrossRefPubMed

Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford.

Malinowski, P. (2008). Mindfulness as psychological dimension: Concepts and applications. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 29(1-2), 155–166. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2013.00008CrossRef

Martín-Martín, A., Orduña-Malea, E., Harzing, A. W., & López-Cózar, E. D. (2017). Can we use Google Scholar to identify highly-cited documents? Journal of Informetrics, 11(1), 152–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2016.11.008CrossRef

Medvedev, O. N., Krägeloh, C. U., Narayanan, A., & Siegert, R. J. (2017). Measuring mindfulness: Applying generalizability theory to distinguish between state and trait. Mindfulness, 8(4), 1036–1046. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0679-0CrossRef

Morgan, M. C., Cardaciotto, L., Moon, S., & Marks, D. (2020). Validation of the Philadelphia mindfulness scale on experienced meditators and nonmeditators. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 76(4), 725–748. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.2290CrossRefPubMed

Nilsson, H., & Kazemi, A. (2016). Reconciling and thematizing definitions of mindfulness: The big five of mindfulness. Review of General Psychology, 20(2), 183–193. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr00004CrossRef

Purser, R. E., & Milillo, J. (2015). Mindfulness revisited: A Buddhist-based conceptualization. Journal of Management Inquiry, 24(1), 3–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492614532315CrossRef

Quaglia, J. T., Brown, K. W., Lindsay, E. K., Creswell, J. D., & Goodman, R. J. (2015). From conceptualization to operationalization of mindfulness. In Handbook of mindfulness: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 151–170). The Guilford Press.

Sauer, S., Walach, H., Schmidt, S., Hinterberger, T., Lynch, S., Büssing, A., & Kohls, N. (2013). Assessment of mindfulness: Review on state of the art. Mindfulness, 4(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0122-5CrossRef

Sauer-Zavala, S. E., Walsh, E. C., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., & Lykins, E. L. (2013). Comparing mindfulness-based intervention strategies: Differential effects of sitting meditation, body scan, and mindful yoga. Mindfulness, 4(4), 383–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0139-9CrossRef

Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. Guilford Press.

Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Simione, L., Raffone, A., & Mirolli, M. (2021). Acceptance, and not its interaction with attention monitoring, increases psychological well-being: Testing the monitor and acceptance theory of mindfulness. Mindfulness, 12(6), 1398–1411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01607-7

Tanay, G., & Bernstein, A. (2013). State mindfulness scale (SMS): Development and initial validation. Psychological Assessment, 25(4), 1286–1299. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034044CrossRefPubMed

Thelwall, M., & Kousha, K. (2017). ResearchGate versus Google Scholar: Which finds more early citations? Scientometrics, 112(2), 1125–1131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-017-2400-4CrossRef

Thompson, B. L., & Waltz, J. (2007). Everyday mindfulness and mindfulness meditation: Overlapping constructs or not? Personality and Individual Differences, 43(7), 1875–1885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.06.017CrossRef

Thondup, T. (1996). The healing power of mind. Penguin.

Weber, J. (2017). Mindfulness is not enough: Why equanimity holds the key to compassion. Mindfulness & Compassion, 2(2), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mincom.2017.09.004%202445-4079CrossRef

Wittmann, M., Otten, S., Schötz, E., Sarikaya, A., Lehnen, H., Jo, H. G., Kohls, N., Schmidt, S., & Meissner, K. (2015). Subjective expansion of extended time-spans in experienced meditators. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1586. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01586CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Titel: Conceptualizations of Mindfulness Among Experienced Practitioners
Auteurs: Jonah Lustig
LeeAnn Cardaciotto
Simon Moon
Megan Spokas
Publicatiedatum: 27-03-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness / Uitgave 4/2024
Print ISSN: 1868-8527
Elektronisch ISSN: 1868-8535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02339-0

Andere artikelen Uitgave 4/2024

Online Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Subacute Pain After Total Hip or Knee Replacement: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

ORIGINAL PAPER

The Self-Pattern and Buddhist Psychology

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People Experiencing Psychosis: A Randomized Feasibility Study

ORIGINAL PAPER

Room to Improve: Predictors of Attendance and Outcomes Within Mindfulness-Enhanced Behavioral Parent Training

Open Access
ORIGINAL PAPER

Facing Obstacles with Equanimity: Trait Equanimity Attenuates the Positive Relations Between Values Obstruction and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

ORIGINAL PAPER

The Efficacy of a Group Program Integrating Compassionate Mind Training with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for College Students With Test Anxiety in Mainland China

ORIGINAL PAPER