Personal and relational experiences on meditation journeys following developmental trauma: An IPA study of adults who experienced an inconsistent evolved developmental niche.

Abstract:

Objectives: In recent decades, research has increasingly highlighted the devastating effects of childhood trauma and relational processes that violate human development. However, the unique dynamics of such early‐life deprivations in adults who practice meditation, a context where the complexity of such wounding (and healing) may become apparent, remains underexplored. The objectives of this study were to explore how individuals with a history of inconsistent evolved developmental niche (EDN) care experience their meditation journeys, and to understand the emotional and relational processes that emerge in this context.

Design: A qualitative design using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was adopted to capture participants' lived experiences.

Methods: Six adults with a history of inconsistent EDN care and at least 3 months of regular meditation practice participated in semi‐structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using IPA to identify key experiential themes.

Results: Three themes emerged from the data: (1) ‘An inconsistent EDN in childhood left lasting emotional and relational wounds into adulthood’, (2) ‘Meditation eased inner turmoil but revealed different ways of dealing with emotions and the body’, and (3) ‘Meditation offered a space to explore relating to the self and others, areas complicated by their inconsistent EDN’. Findings illustrated the inheritance and development of immature defence mechanisms alongside emotional and relational challenges. Participants described feelings of increased calmness and closeness with others as benefits of meditation, though for some, pre‐existing difficulties persisted or were amplified.

Conclusion: These results raise awareness of the long‐term effects surrounding unresolved traumatic dynamics and the importance of delivering trauma‐informed care. They also highlight the potential of meditation to uncover psychological dynamics and experiences rooted in early life which have the emotional potency to pose risks to individuals coming into contact with them.