Current Tensions and Challenges in Mindfulness Research and Practice
Ben Ainsworth, Melissa Jayne Atkinson, Eman AlBedah, Sian Duncan, Julia Groot, Pamela Charlotte Jacobsen, Amanda Marie James, Tom A. Jenkins, Kateřina Kylišová, Elizabeth M. Marks, Emma Louise Osborne, Masha Remskar, Rosalia Underhill
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy May 20, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s10879-023-09584-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key points | The authors argue that the mindfulness community must hold awareness of four key tensions: mindfulness for me versus for others, for some versus for all, the whole versus its parts, and improving access versus preserving fidelity. Recognizing these challenges is presented as vital for retaining authenticity, trust, and diverse engagement in the expanding field. |
Abstract
Abstract The field of mindfulness practice and research has expanded over recent years and become more established in the public consciousness. In this paper we explore four key tensions for the mindfulness community to hold in awareness. These include: Mindfulness for me vs. mindfulness for others (an awareness of the loss of the spiritual and collective elements historically essential to mindfulness), Mindfulness for some vs. mindfulness for all (understanding why mindfulness may be more appealing for some more than others), The whole vs. the sum of its parts (the need to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness and still preserve its integrity), and Improving access vs. preserving fidelity (balancing modifications to address issues such as accessibility with retaining core components). Recognising such challenges is a vital aspect of ensuring that mindfulness researchers and practitioners continue to work in a way that retains authenticity and trust within this burgeoning field and helps to support engagement from a diverse range of people across the modern world.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 11
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Predicting Individual Preferences in Mindfulness Techniques Using Personality Traits Frontiers in Psychology June 18, 2020
- Effects of Kindness- and Compassion-Based Meditation on Wellbeing, Prosociality, and Cognitive Functioning in Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review Mindfulness September 1, 2022
- Stay Present with Your Phone: A Systematic Review and Standardized Rating of Mindfulness Apps in European App Stores. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine November 20, 2020
and 6 more in the library