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Meditation experience as daily practice: A qualitative study

Kangsuk Shon

Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.12972/mpca.2026.36.1 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 36
Population Meditation practitioners who practice meditation as part of their daily routine
Intervention meditation
Topics Meditation
Keywords Qualitative research Interpersonal communication Coping psychology Feeling Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Relaxation psychology Developmental psychology Focus group
Key findings Meditation as daily practice yields subjective experiences of rest, relaxation, mental stability, peace, inner self-encounter, emotional acceptance, improved emotional regulation, and changes in coping such as increased self-reflection and more deliberate actions.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore meditation experiences as daily practice. For this purpose, focus group interviews were conducted with 36 meditation practitioners who practice meditation as part of their daily routine, divided into 5 groups. The research findings are as follows: First, in ‘subjective experiences through meditation as daily practice,’ five categories emerged: ‘experiencing rest and relaxation in daily life,’ ‘experiencing mental stability and peace in daily life,’ ‘encountering one’s inner self through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘considering meditation as daily practice as training and process,’ and ‘experiencing living with meditation in daily life.’ Second, in ‘emotional acceptance through meditation as daily practice,’ six categories emerged: ‘becoming able to recognize and accept emotions through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘feeling improved emotional regulation ability through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘experiencing growth through reflection on emotions via meditation as daily practice,’ ‘becoming able to regulate emotions in interpersonal relationships through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘experiencing reduction of negative emotions through meditation as daily practice,’ and ‘increased positive emotions through meditation as daily practice.’ Third, in ‘changes in coping through meditation as daily practice,’ six categories emerged: ‘increased self-reflection and awareness of behavior through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘becoming more deliberate in actions through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘experiencing changes toward gentler attitudes in interpersonal relationships through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘increased consideration in family relationships through meditation as daily practice,’ ‘changes in ways of responding to conflict situations through meditation as daily practice,’ and ‘actions becoming more relaxed through meditation as daily practice.’ This study has significance in confirming that meditation is not an activity limited to specific spaces or times, but rather a sustainable practice that can be implemented in daily life.

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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