Making the Most of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Participant Feedback Reveals Strengths and Challenges

Elizabeth S. Allen; S. Evans; K. Wyka

doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2020.10.002

Making the Most of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Participant Feedback Reveals Strengths and Challenges

Elizabeth S. Allen, S. Evans, K. Wyka

November 9, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2020.10.002 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Mixed-methods program evaluation with qualitative clinical reflection
Sample size	181
Population	Nonclinical adults who completed an 8-week community-based MBSR program
Interventions	Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) sitting meditation gentle hatha yoga
Duration	8-week MBSR program
Topics	Meditation
Key findings	Participants reported meaningful improvements in well-being after MBSR and rated nonspecific course elements as highly useful. Although all three meditation forms were rated beneficial, participants preferred the body scan and sitting meditation over yoga, and audio-guided over self-guided practice. The authors argue these findings support recommendations about addressing preconceptions, reducing reliance on audio guides, attending to individual participation, discussing time management, and promoting an ongoing meditation practice.

Abstract

Abstract Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) offers comprehensive instruction to clients in three forms of meditation: the body scan, sitting meditation, and gentle hatha yoga. Clinical experience suggests that participants may express a preference for one mode of practice over others. However, little research has addressed this question or explored participants’ experience of nonspecific factors such as group discussion and teacher personality. In this paper, we aimed to shed light on these open questions in two ways. First, we present quantitative and qualitative post-test data from a nonclinical sample of 181 participants who completed course evaluation forms at the end of an 8-week MBSR program. Second, we share clinical insights and lessons learned over several years teaching MBSR in a community-based program. On evaluation forms, participants reported meaningful improvements in well-being following MBSR and evaluated the nonspecific elements of the course as highly useful. Although they rated all three forms of meditation as beneficial, there was a preference for the body scan and sitting meditation over yoga, and for audio-guided over self-guided practice. Qualitative feedback reflected themes related to learning different forms of meditation, developing an independent practice, meditating with a group, adding additional sessions, and appreciation for the course. Survey findings, taken together with existing research and clinical impressions, support recommendations to address participant preconceptions about the different forms of meditation, encourage meditation practice without audio guides, pay attention to the level of individual participation, discuss how to carve out time to meditate, and promote participants’ development of an ongoing meditation practice. We illustrate these points with case examples and clinical vignettes.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan...	2017	Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system	2004	Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety	2006	Exploratory mixed methods study	n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context	2001	Qualitative study	n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators	2013	Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

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