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Mindfulness meditation experiences of novice practitioners in an online intervention: Trajectories, predictors, and challenges.

Evgeny N Osin, Irina I Turilina

Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being February 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12293 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Mixed-methods design Peer reviewed
Sample size 175
Population Novice volunteers participating in a 3-week, distance-based, guided meditation intervention
Intervention guided meditation
Duration 3-week intervention
Topics Meditation
Keywords Activity-related experiences Autonomous functioning Distance-based intervention Guided meditation Optimal experience Self-determination theory
Citations 34
Key points Individual differences in baseline autonomous motivation, mindfulness, and self-regulation skills predicted whether meditation became less effortful and more meaningful over time, or remained effortful and boring.

Abstract

The benefits of mindfulness interventions are well-known, but their challenges and individual differences in reactions to these challenges are much less clear. The study used a mixed-methods design to investigate the individual trajectories of daily experiences during meditation in a sample of novice volunteers participating in a 3-week, distance-based, guided meditation intervention (N = 175). Multilevel modelling revealed individual differences in the change trajectories of the experiences of effort, meaning, and boredom during meditation, indicating that meditation gradually became less effortful, less boring, more interesting, and more important over the 3 weeks. The individual differences in the levels of these experiences and their change trends were associated with baseline differences in well-being, reflective processes, self-management, and self-control skills, as well as autonomous motivation to engage in the course. Individuals who are initially more autonomous and mindful find it easier to engage with online mindfulness interventions and draw more benefits from the process, whereas those with lower self-regulation skills or higher proneness to rumination are more likely to experience mindfulness as effortful and boring, and, eventually, to give it up.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

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