Beyond the individual: Group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction
Zac E. Imel, Scott A. Baldwin, Katherine Bonus, Donal G. Maccoon
Psychotherapy Research September 12, 2008 DOI: 10.1080/10503300802326038 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 606 |
| Population | Adults in 59 groups completing an 8-week MBSR program |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Checklist Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Multilevel model Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 119 |
| Key findings | Group membership accounted for 7% of the variability in general symptom change and 0% in medical symptom change after controlling for pretreatment severity. |
Abstract
The authors explored the group as a source of change in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Participants consisted of 606 adults in 59 groups who completed an 8-week MBSR program. The authors examined change in the General Symptom Index (GSI) of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and the Medical Symptom Checklist (MSC) from pre- to postintervention. Multilevel models were used to examine the extent to which groups differed in the amount of change reported by the participants. After controlling for pretreatment severity, group accounted for 7% of the variability in the GSI and 0% in the MSC. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for the practice of MBSR as well as for research investigating the effects of MBSR and other programs or psychotherapies.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 32
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- A qualitative analysis of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in Parkinson's disease Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice October 20, 2009
- The secret ingredient in mindfulness interventions? A case for practice quality over quantity. Journal of Counseling Psychology 2014
- The Contribution of Common and Specific Therapeutic Factors to Mindfulness-Based Intervention Outcomes Frontiers in Psychology January 14, 2021
- Potential treatment mechanisms in a mindfulness‐based intervention for people with progressive multiple sclerosis British Journal of Health Psychology May 30, 2016
and 27 more in the library
Cites 7
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
- Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences April 1, 2008
- Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2007
and 2 more in the library