Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Prison: Experiences of Inmates, Instructors, and Prison Staff.
N Bouw, Stephan C. J. Huijbregts, E Scholte, Hanna Swaab
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology June 13, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x19856232 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective pre-post qualitative and quantitative study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Male inmates in five Dutch prisons convicted of murder, manslaughter, sexual offenses, drug offenses, robbery with violence, and/or illegal restraint/kidnap, sentenced to 15 to 209 months; also ten staff members and four MBSR instructors |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Retrospective studies Feasibility studies Adaptation, psychological Stress, psychological Impulsive behavior Anger Motivation Self concept Prisons Adult Middle aged Prisoners Netherlands Male Surveys and questionnaires Case managers Emotional regulation Alternative treatment Mindfulness-based stress reduction Inmates |
| Key findings | Inmates, staff, and MBSR instructors reported improvements across all addressed domains, including stress responsivity, coping style, impulse control, aggression, and self-esteem, and expressed satisfaction with the intervention. Challenges were mainly practical issues in organizing the sessions. The authors call for longitudinal randomized controlled designs, multi-method approaches, and distinguishing inmates by personality characteristics. |
Abstract
Mindfulness intervention aims to reduce stress and to improve physical and mental health. The present study investigated feasibility and effectiveness of mindfulness intervention in a prison context, in both a qualitative and quantitative fashion. Specifically, the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention was investigated, in a retrospective pre-post design, in five Dutch prisons. Twenty-two inmates (out of 25 approached, mean age: 40.1 years (SD = 11.1), convicted of murder, manslaughter, sexual offenses, drug offenses, robbery with violence, and/or illegal restraint/kidnap, and sentenced to incarceration between 15 and 209 months (M = 5.5 years; SD = 3.8) took part in a semistructured interview after completion of the MBSR intervention. The interviews addressed level of satisfaction and challenges regarding the MBSR intervention as well as potential effects on stress responsivity, coping style, impulse control, aggression, and self-esteem. Ten staff members and four MBSR instructors were interviewed about their own practical issues experienced while providing or facilitating the MBSR intervention, and about the effects or changes they observed in the inmates who underwent the intervention. Both participants and instructors/prison staff reported improvements in all of the addressed domains and expressed satisfaction with the intervention. Challenges were mainly identified in practical issues regarding the organization of the intervention sessions. Future studies should investigate mindfulness in longitudinal randomly controlled designs, should strive for a multi-method approach, and distinguish inmates according to personality characteristics.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Terapi Mindfulness Nafas Dalam pada Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan Jurnal Pengabdian Perawat October 19, 2023
- Understanding the Influence of Experiential Psychotherapy Among Men Who Have Offended: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology June 2, 2026
- Altered States of Consciousness are Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey Mindfulness May 1, 2024
- The Utility of Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Interventions in the Time of COVID-19: A Theoretical Proposition and Systematic Review of the Relevant Prison, Quarantine and Lockdown Literature. Psychological Reports December 10, 2021
- Mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku: Potential for Physiological and Psychological Interventions during Uncertain Times. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 14, 2020
Cites 17
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention on Psychological Well-being and Quality of Life: Is Increased Mindfulness Indeed the Mechanism? Annals of Behavioral Medicine June 1, 2008
and 12 more in the library