Mindfulness
July 20, 2026
Julia Petrovic, Jessica Mettler, Julia Baran-Polansky et al.
Individuals with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) often report high self-criticism, emotion dysregulation, and a complex relationship with their body. As such, formal mindfulness practice (i.e., focusing on one’s thoughts, emotions, and body with acceptance) is a common element of prominent approaches to the treatment of NSSI. However, adherence to formal mindfulness practice is...
The Family Journal
May 20, 2026
Leena Anand, Bassam Khoury, Steff Du Bois
Long-distance relationships (LDR) are increasingly common among postsecondary students, yet few studies have examined how dispositional mindfulness (DM) supports relational and health functioning in this context. This study tested: (a) the differential contribution of DM facets to interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes, and (b) the mediating role of DM facets in the association between...
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
May 2, 2026
Bassam Khoury
This paper examines how we arrived at a historical moment in which contemplative practices are widely disseminated, yet collective suffering, polarization, wars and genocides, and ecological degradation persist. Thepaper aims to analyze evolutionary, psychological, cultural, and institutional barriers that constrain the cultivation and societal scaling of contemplative practices, namely...
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
September 1, 2025
Emma Schmelefske, Megan Per, Leena Anand et al.
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with suicide risk, as well as a number of psychological disorders. This, coupled with its high prevalence rate, make it imperative that effective treatments for those who engage in NSSI are investigated and made available to the public. Despite this, few interventions specifically targeting NSSI have been researched. This study aimed to address this...
Clinical Gerontologist
March 28, 2025
Isabel Sadowski, Marianne Meilleur-Bédard, Bassam Khoury
ABSTRACT Objectives The rapid aging of the global population necessitates innovative interventions to address older adults’ mental health. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 4-week, 8-session nature-mindfulness-compassion program using immersive virtual reality (Embodied-and-Embedded-Mindfulness-Compassion-Framework – Virtual-Reality...
Stress and Health
October 18, 2023
Johan Høy Jensen, Reiner Rugulies, Esben Meulengracht Flachs et al.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a 9-session group-treatment programme for managing stress. Research suggests variability in the outcomes of MBSR among participants. This prognostic (not causal) study develops a multivariable model that may support clinicians in forecasting expected MBSR outcomes. We used data of 763 patients collected from MBSR programs conducted between October...
Research Square
June 30, 2023
Johan Høy Jensen, Esben Meulengracht Flachs, Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen et al.
preprint
Purpose: The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group intervention is increasingly being used in clinics to alleviate stress-related symptoms. The aim was to evaluate the association between pre-post changes in levels of perceived stress during the MBSR program and occupational recovery from prolonged work-related stress. Potential moderators of the association were assessed. Methods...
Frontiers in Psychology
April 26, 2023
Bassam Khoury, Viktoriya Manova, Lena Adel et al.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 14% of the US population practice mindfulness meditation. The effects of mindfulness training on physical and mental health have been consistently documented, but its effects on interpersonal relationships are not yet fully understood or investigated. Interpersonal relationships play a crucial role in the wellbeing of individuals...
Journal of school psychology
April 1, 2023
Jessica Mettler, Bassam Khoury, Stephanie Zito et al.
Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are increasingly used in educational institutions to enhance students' mental health and resilience. However, reviews of the literature suggest this use may have outpaced the evidence base and further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these programs' effectiveness and which outcomes are being affected. The purpose of this...
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
April 1, 2023
Rasoul Heshmati, Bassam Khoury, Shahin Azmoodeh et al.
The present study was developed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the level of emotional flexibility and ambivalence related to emotional expression of divorced women. A general community sample of 30 divorced women was recruited and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received MBSR for 8 weeks, and the control group...
Assessment
March 2023
Bassam Khoury, Rodrigo C. Vergara, Isabel Sadowski et al.
Recently developed mindfulness scales have integrated aspects of the body in measuring mindfulness unlike other established scales. However, these scales focused solely on body awareness and did not embrace all aspects of mindfulness and the body. Specifically, they did not integrate embodiment in mindfulness. The proposed Embodied Mindfulness Questionnaire (EMQ) aims to operationalize the...
Frontiers in Psychology
2023
Karin Cinalioglu, Paola Lavín, Magnus Bein et al.
21 citations
Virtual reality (VR) based meditation has been shown to help increase relaxation and decrease anxiety and depression in younger adults. However, this has not been studied in Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) in the older adult population. The aim of this RCT is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a VR-guided meditation intervention for community-dwelling older adults and its effect...
Mindfulness
September 15, 2022
Minh Anh Quang Tran, Tan Vo-Thanh, Mohammad Soliman et al.
Objectives: Theory and prior research suggest that improving self-esteem is a promising way to improve students' academic performance and mental health. This study empirically examines the mediating effect of psychological well-being and positive emotion in the relationships between self-compassion, mindfulness, stress, and self-esteem. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 10, 2020
Christina Spinelli, Etienne Paradis-Gagné, Megan Per et al.
Forensic inpatients (i. e., individuals found not responsible for a criminal offense on account of mental illness) represent an often marginalized and difficult-to-treat population. This has led to the need for research exploring the effectiveness of novel interventions. A Canadian forensic hospital has developed an 8-weeks mindfulness and yoga training program (MTP). This pilot study examined...
Behavioural Neurology
April 21, 2019
Hélène Poissant, Adrianna Mendrek, Nadine Talbot et al.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are becoming increasingly popular as treatments for physical and psychological problems. Recently, several studies have suggested that MBIs may also be effective in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Most studies have examined the effectiveness in children, but there are now a sufficient number of individual treatment...
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
2017
Bassam Khoury, Bärbel Knäuper, Marco Schlosser et al.
An increasing number of studies are investigating traditional meditation retreats. Very little, however, is known about their effectiveness. To evaluate the effectiveness of meditation retreats on improving psychological outcomes in general population. A systematic review of studies published in journals or as dissertations in PSYCINFO, PUBMED, CINAHL or Web of Science from the first available...
Frontiers in Psychology
June 17, 2014
Bassam Khoury, Ellen J. Langer, Francesco Pagnini
In this paper we review the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental health (DSM), its scientific bases and utility. The concepts of "normality," "pathology," and boundaries between them are critically reviewed. We further use the concepts of mindfulness and mindlessness, and evidence from cognitive and social sciences to investigate the DSM clinical and social impact and we argue against...