Examining motivators and barriers to meditation practice among individuals with spinal cord injury: Insights from a survey study.
Radha Korupolu, Chelsea G Ratcliff, Ariana Andampour, Susan Robinson-Whelen, Shrasti Lohiya, Audrey S Cohen, Christine Bakos-Block, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer
Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine February 18, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2025.2457807 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 94 |
| Population | Adults with spinal cord injury from a single large acute rehabilitation center in the United States |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Adherence Barriers Motivators Spinal cord injury |
| Key findings | Nearly half of individuals with spinal cord injury currently engage in meditation at least once a week, with relaxation, curiosity, and improving mental well-being as primary motivators, while barriers include inability to stop thoughts, lack of knowledge, and uncertainty about correct techniques. |
Abstract
Meditation and mindfulness practices offer promising non-pharmacological alternatives for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve their health and well-being, but integrating such practices into daily routines can be challenging. This survey study aims to identify motivators and barriers to engagement with meditation and mindfulness interventions among individuals with SCI. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults with SCI (N = 94) from a single large acute rehabilitation center in the United States. Results from the survey showed a strong interest in meditation among individuals with SCI, with nearly half reporting current engagement in meditation practices at least once a week. Motivations for starting meditation varied, including relaxation, curiosity, and improving mental well-being, such as reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. The preferred modes of meditation delivery included app-guided and virtual individual sessions. Specific barriers to meditation were identified, such as the inability to stop thoughts, a lack of knowledge about meditation, and uncertainty about correct practice techniques. Physician discussions about meditation with participants were infrequent. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the meditation practices and preferences of individuals with SCI, highlighting opportunities and challenges for promoting meditation engagement and enhancing well-being in this population. Limitations of the study include limited generalizability, reliance on self-reported measures, and lack of assessment of potential confounding variables. Future research efforts should focus on developing and evaluating interventions that address the barriers and promote the uptake of meditation practices in this population.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
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- Group, One-on-One, or Internet? Preferences for Mindfulness Meditation Delivery Format and their Predictors Open Medicine Journal November 28, 2014
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Chronic Pain Management in the Community Pharmacy Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the General Public's Knowledge and Perceptions. Pharmacy September 21, 2023
- Feasibility, Acceptability, and Efficacy of Mindfulness Training in People With Upper Motor Neuron Disorders: A Systematic Review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation December 2022
- Mindfulness Interventions Delivered by Technology Without Facilitator Involvement: What Research Exists and What Are the Clinical Outcomes? Mindfulness 2016