Mindfulness, Consciousness, Spirituality, and Well-Being
Religion and Spirituality Across Cultures 2014 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8950-9_11 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Religious coping Mindfulness training Mindfulness meditation Altered state Spiritual experience |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness and spirituality are overlapping but distinct constructs that interact and contribute to each other's development, and both are important mechanisms through which mindfulness-based interventions exert benefits. |
Abstract
Spiritual engagement has long been argued, and often empirically supported, as important to well-being. Recent work suggests mindfulness must be considered when investigating relationships between spirituality and health. Mindfulness, which involves the intentional direction of attention to the present moment with an accepting and nonjudgmental attitude, has received a great deal of attention as a means to improve wellness via mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). Though mindfulness is often learned or practiced in a secular manner, individuals often report spiritual benefits from their practice. On the whole, research suggests that mindfulness and spirituality are overlapping but distinct constructs, that they likely interact and contribute to one another’s development, and that both are important mechanisms through which MBIs exert benefits. Given that mindfulness meditation has been shown to induce an altered state of consciousness, it may be important to consider how other means of inducing altered states may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The dynamic framework of mind wandering revisited: How mindful meta-awareness affects mental states' constraints. Consciousness and Cognition October 1, 2021
- Mindfulness, Spirituality, and Awe as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being in Camping Experiences Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences July 31, 2026
- Employee Wellness Without Stress and Strain Handbook of Research on Innovative Management Using AI in Industry 5.0 2022
Cites 39
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
and 34 more in the library