An Exploration of Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice and Associations with Wellbeing
Kelly Birtwell, Kate Williams, Harm van Marwijk, Christopher J. Armitage, David Sheffield
Mindfulness May 21, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0951-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 218 |
| Population | People who were currently practicing mindfulness or had practiced in the past |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 208 |
| Key findings | Informal mindfulness practice was related to positive wellbeing and psychological flexibility, and the frequency (but not duration) of formal practice was associated with positive wellbeing, though neither frequency nor duration of formal practice was significantly associated with psychological flexibility. Attending a face-to-face taught course made no significant difference to formal practice frequency. The authors suggest mindfulness teachers can use these findings to remind students of benefits and normalize challenges such as falling asleep. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has transdiagnostic applicability, but little is known about how people first begin to practice mindfulness and what sustains practice in the long term. The aim of the present research was to explore the experiences of a large sample of people practicing mindfulness, including difficulties with practice and associations between formal and informal mindfulness practice and wellbeing. In this cross-sectional study, 218 participants who were practicing mindfulness or had practiced in the past completed an online survey about how they first began to practice mindfulness, difficulties and supportive factors for continuing to practice, current wellbeing, and psychological flexibility. Participants had practiced mindfulness from under a year up to 43 years. There was no significant difference in the frequency of formal mindfulness practice between those who had attended a face-to-face taught course and those who had not. Common difficulties included finding time to practice formally and falling asleep during formal practice. Content analysis revealed "practical resources," "time/routine," "support from others," and "attitudes and beliefs," which were supportive factors for maintaining mindfulness practice. Informal mindfulness practice was related to positive wellbeing and psychological flexibility. Frequency (but not duration) of formal mindfulness practice was associated with positive wellbeing; however, neither frequency nor duration of formal mindfulness practice was significantly associated with psychological flexibility. Mindfulness teachers will be able to use the present findings to further support their students by reminding them of the benefits as well as normalising some of the challenges of mindfulness practice including falling asleep.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 59
- Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness May 11, 2023
- The importance of formal versus informal mindfulness practice for enhancing psychological wellbeing and study engagement in a medical student cohort with a 5-week mindfulness-based lifestyle program. PLoS One 2021
- How we teach mindfulness matters: Adolescent development and the importance of informal mindfulness. Journal of school psychology August 1, 2024
- Restoration Skills Training in a Natural Setting Compared to Conventional Mindfulness Training: Sustained Advantages at a 6-Month Follow-Up Frontiers in Psychology August 1, 2022
- How often should I meditate? A randomized trial examining the role of meditation frequency when total amount of meditation is held constant. Journal of Counseling Psychology March 1, 2024
and 54 more in the library
Cites 13
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Participants' Experiences of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: “It Changed Me in Just about Every Way Possible” Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy June 10, 2009
- Group, One-on-One, or Internet? Preferences for Mindfulness Meditation Delivery Format and their Predictors Open Medicine Journal November 28, 2014
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
and 8 more in the library