Training for Mindfulness Teachers: Benefits for Mindfulness, Well-being, and Emotion Regulation
Alessio Matiz, Alberto Chiesa, Fabio D’Antoni, Rachele Barbieri, Cristiano Crescentini
Mindfulness February 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02520-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled longitudinal study (non-randomized, matched control group) Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 87 |
| Population | Mindfulness instructors-in-training, with an age- and gender-matched control group |
| Intervention | Mindfulness teacher training (MTT) program |
| Duration | 9-month program, assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Compared with matched controls, participants in the 9-month mindfulness teacher training showed significant improvements in most mindfulness facets, decreased rumination, and increased personal growth and purpose in life. No significant group differences were found in other dimensions of emotion regulation or psychological well-being. The authors present this as preliminary evidence. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives This study examined the effects of a 9-month mindfulness teacher training (MTT) program on mindfulness skills, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being among future mindfulness instructors, compared to a control group.
Method: Eighty-seven mindfulness instructors-in-training participated in the MTT program. The control group consisted of age- and gender-matched individuals. Mindfulness skills, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention using validated measures.
Results: In comparison with the control group, participants in the MTT group showed significant improvements in most facets of mindfulness (i.e., observe, describe, non-react, and act with awareness). They also reported decreased rumination, as well as increased personal growth and purpose in life compared to the control group. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in other dimensions of emotion regulation or psychological well-being.
Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that mindfulness teacher trainings positively affect mindfulness skills, as well as specific aspects of psychological well-being (personal growth and purpose in life), and emotion regulation (rumination). Future research should investigate the long-term effects of these trainings and how instructors’ well-being relates to their teaching effectiveness. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.
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 2
Cites 14
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Competence in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses: Concepts, Development and Assessment Mindfulness September 21, 2011
- The impact of mindfulness on well-being and performance in the workplace: an inclusive systematic review of the empirical literature European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology April 19, 2017
- Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience Mindfulness April 26, 2010
and 9 more in the library