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Mindfulness and More: Toward a Science of Human Flourishing.

Richard J Davidson

Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000960 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Commentary Peer reviewed
Topics Meditation
Keywords Humans Exercise Learning Research design
Key points Argues that mindfulness research has matured but still requires attention to methodological and implementation issues, including appropriate comparison groups, extension to underserved populations, baseline predictors of benefit, and combination with activities such as physical exercise. Proposes that future work address mobile interventions, microinterventions, and a more expansive framework for human flourishing, framing the learning of well-being as an urgent public health need requiring global scaling.

Abstract

Abstract: This commentary for this Special Issue on mindfulness highlights the progress and maturity of this growing field of scientific investigation and points the way toward important questions that require further study. Important methodological and implementation issues including the nature of proper comparison groups, the extension of mindfulness-based interventions to underserved populations, the assessment of baseline characteristics that predict beneficial outcomes, and how mindfulness might be combined with other health-promoting activities such as physical exercise are considered. New questions for future research were also showcased, including best practices for mobile interventions, the development and assessment of microinterventions, and the need for a more expansive framework to cultivate human flourishing. The learning of well-being is conceptualized as an urgent public health need that will require new approaches for global scaling.

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