Meditation, Mindfulness, and Social Work
Sadye L M Logan
Encyclopedia of Social Work March 4, 2014 DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.981 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Meditation Mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that contemplative practices drawn from religion and spiritual disciplines can serve as tools that help social workers become more intentional and effective change agents in work with individuals, families, children, and communities. The entry traces these practices from their historic religious roots to early 21st-century use with children and families, and addresses both benefits and limitations of meditation and mindfulness as practice tools. |
Abstract
Abstract: Research has shown that social workers and other helping professionals can make use of the contemplative practices from religion and spiritual disciplines. These practices can be utilized as tools that help social workers become more intentional and effective change agents as helpers in their work with individuals, families, children, and communities. This entry discusses the evolution and emergence of the practices of meditation and mindfulness within the helping context, starting with the historic roots in different religions to its usage in the early 21st century with children and families. Additionally, it addresses the limitations and benefits of meditation and mindfulness as practice tools.
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
Cites 2
- Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Mindfulness and Social Work: Paying Attention to Ourselves, Our Clients, and Society Mindfulness and Social Work June 1, 2009