The Many Facets of Mindfulness and the Prediction of Change Following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Michael J. Gawrysiak, S. Grassetti, Jeffrey M Greeson, R. Shorey, Ryan T. Pohlig, M. Baime
Journal of Clinical Psychology August 16, 2017 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22521 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 131 |
| Population | MBSR participants |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Lower baseline acceptance and decentering predicted greater decreases in perceived stress, while higher baseline awareness, acceptance, and decentering predicted greater increases in positive affect. |
Abstract
Objectives: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) promotes numerous psychological benefits, but few studies have identified for whom MBSR is most effective. The current study tested the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness invites more “room to grow” and, thus, predicts greater improvement during MBSR.
Design: We examined three facets of mindfulness (awareness, acceptance, decentering), among 131 MBSR participants prior to enrollment, to test the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness predicts greater improvements in perceived stress, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) following MBSR.
Results: Lower acceptance and decentering predicted greater decreases in perceived stress. Higher awareness, acceptance, and decentering predicted greater increases in PA. Higher awareness predicted greater reductions in NA. Lower decentering predicted greater reductions in NA.
Conclusions: Findings partly supported the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness predicts greater improvement following MBSR and emphasize the importance of assessing multiple mindfulness facets given their unique, contrasting relations to outcomes.