Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Culturally Relevant Treatment for Racial or Ethnic Minorities
Tiffany Williams, Esther Lynch, Paigean Jones, Jeffery Bass, Rhea Harrison
Counseling and Therapy - Recent Developments in Theories and Practices September 28, 2022 DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.103911 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that racial and ethnic minorities face heightened mental health risks and barriers to care, and that Evidence-Based Treatments may lack cultural relevance for these groups. Proposes that mindfulness-based techniques such as MBSR are culturally sensitive and may support holistic healing, and that clinicians should use cultural competence tools. |
Abstract
Racial or ethnic minorities (REM) are at a particularly high risk of experiencing mental health conditions. Unlike their White counterparts, social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, racialized violence, or discrimination) exacerbate REM quality of life. REM are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to seek and receive mental health treatment. Additionally, REM are more likely to experience systemic barriers (e.g., cultural mistrust, stigma, lack of access, and financial barriers), which further complicates their willingness and capacity to seek treatment. While Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs) are identified as empirically supportive treatments for a range of mental health conditions, there is skepticism about their cultural appropriateness and relevance for REM populations. Clinicians must be culturally competent and use clinical tools (e.g., Multidimensional Model for Developing Cultural Competence) to assist in promoting cultural competence. Likewise, practitioners must be conscientious and knowledgeable about the pitfalls of EBTs when working with REM. Mindfulness-based techniques, such as MBSR, are culturally sensitive and inclusive of historical, social, and cultural ideologies that align with the needs of REM. MBSR has the potential to offer holistic coping given its effectiveness in promoting neurological, physical, and psychological healing.
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
- "It's a Really Big Privilege to be Able to Take Care of Ourselves": A Mixed Methods Study of Integrating Mindfulness for Mental Health into a Job Training Program for Low-Income Emerging Adults. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2025
- Innovating Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Delivery in Cancer Care: Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal 2024
Cites 12
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- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Urban Youth The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine February 25, 2011
- Examining mindfulness-based stress reduction: Perceptions from minority older adults residing in a low-income housing facility BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine May 31, 2011
- Mindfulness based interventions for depression and anxiety in Asian Population: A systematic review Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal June 28, 2018
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Cognition, and Immunity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study Clinical Interventions in Aging August 1, 2020
and 7 more in the library