A qualitative case analysis of mindfulness meditation training in an outpatient stress reduction clinic and its implications for the development of self-knowledge.
Scholarworks August 15, 2023 DOI: 10.7275/14756475 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative and quantitative case study Cross-sectional Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Adults referred for mindfulness meditation training in an outpatient hospital-based stress reduction clinic |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Training meteorology Mindfulness meditation Stress linguistics Qualitative analysis Outpatient clinic Qualitative research Applied psychology |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | The majority of participants showed reductions in medical symptoms and clinically elevated psychological distress, and common patterns of experience characteristic of mindfulness meditation emerged progressively during and after the intervention. |
Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative methods were combined to examine the experience of eight adults referred for mindfulness meditation training (MMT) within the context of a group, out-patient, hospital-based, stress reduction clinic. Through interviewing, observation and document analysis, three aspects of experience were investigated: the subjective experience of learning meditation; the application of meditation-based coping skills in daily life; and the effects of the training on perception of self. Individual and cross-sectional case study methods were used to examine longitudinally, the classes and common patterns of experience of participants during and following the conclusion of the intervention. In addition, the experience of participants was examined within the theoretical framework of Self-Knowledge Development Theory (SKT) in an attempt to understand how people at differing stages of self-knowledge, as delineated by the theory, experienced and utilized MMT. Results suggest that: (1) the majority of participants showed reductions in medical symptoms (MSCL) and in clinically elevated levels of psychological distress (SCL-90R) on outcome measures; (2) common patterns of experience characteristic of mindfulness meditation practice emerged progressively during and following the intervention among patients with diverse diagnoses; (3) the interdependent nature of the formal and informal dimensions of mindfulness meditation may be particularly important in the development of positive long-term changes in health behavior in the lives of medical patients; (4) there is an interactive, learning cycle between skill development (formal meditation), application of skills in daily life (informal meditation), and perception of self that functions as a self-motivating force, fostering continued skill development following the conclusion of the intervention; and (5) there is variance in the participant's use of the intervention that appears to be consistent with and further defines elements of the Situational and Pattern stages of Self-Knowledge Development Theory.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction as supportive therapy in cancer care: systematic review Journal of Advanced Nursing September 29, 2005
- The Integration of the Workable Range Model into a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course: a Practice-Based Case Study. Mindfulness August 29, 2017
- Using mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions in psychiatric nursing practice--part I: Description and empirical support for mindfulness-based interventions. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing October 1, 2004