Exploring the Experiences of a Kouksundo Meditation Program for Enhancing Resilience and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients
Y. Choi, Shinhae Lee, Hyehyun Hwang, Min-Jeong Kim
Korean Society for Leisure Sciences May 30, 2026 DOI: 10.37408/kjls.2026.17.2.31 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study with pre-post measures Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 7 |
| Population | Cancer patients who completed an 8-week Kouksundo meditation program |
| Intervention | Kouksundo meditation |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Resilience and quality of life improved significantly after the program. Five themes emerged from phenomenological analysis, suggesting a process where existential instability gives way to changed body, emotional, self, and relational perceptions, ultimately strengthening resilience and improving quality of life. |
Abstract
This study examined changes in resilience and quality of life among seven cancer patients who completed an 8‑week Kouksundo meditation program, while exploring the meaning and structural essence of their participation experiences. The results showed significant improvements in resilience and quality of life. Five core themes were identified through phenomenological analysis. First, participants experienced existential instability during the cancer diagnosis and treatment process. Second, changes in perceptions of the body and emotions were observed. Third, changes in self-perception emerged. Fourth, participants restructured their relational experiences. Fifth, the meaning of life and death was reinterpreted. These findings suggest a process through which resilience is strengthened, ultimately leading to improved quality of life. Therefore, this meditation program may contribute to improving resilience and quality of life in cancer patients and serve as foundational data for the development of intervention programs that promote psychological balance and adaptation to daily life.
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 |