Iterative Refinement of a Sensory-Based Mindfulness Coaching Approach: An Exploratory Qualitative Action Research Study with Korean University Students.
Myoung Jin Hong, Song Yi Lee
Behavioral Sciences September 8, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/bs16091598 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative action research Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Korean university students |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-flow-awareness-coaching (MFAC) a sensory-based mindfulness coaching approach |
| Duration | Six-session MFAC framework; one participant's adjusted Session 4 conducted one week after the initial Session 4 was discontinued |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | University students Sensory awareness Qualitative action research Sensory-based mindfulness coaching |
| Key findings | The authors report that iteratively refining MFAC yielded four practice-based principles: prioritising sensory noticing over interpretation, establishing psychological safety before task completion, balancing structural consistency with responsive adaptation, and framing action-oriented activities as revisable attempts. Participants described greater openness to sensory and emotional experience, contextualised self-understanding through meaning-making, and movement towards feasible action, while also reporting discomfort, interruptions, ambiguous experiences, and incomplete actions. The authors position MFAC as a practice-informed approach, not evidence of therapeutic efficacy or causal psychological change. |
Abstract
This exploratory qualitative action research study examined the implementation and iterative refinement of mindfulness-flow-awareness-coaching (MFAC), a sensory-based mindfulness coaching approach, and explored participants' reported experiences. Six Korean university students completed pre-MFAC and post-MFAC interviews and the six-session MFAC framework. One participant's initial Session 4 was discontinued after an unexpected recollection resulted in emotional overwhelm, and an adjusted Session 4 was conducted one week later, resulting in 37 session deliveries. The study drew on interview and session transcripts, participant records, action records, and observational and reflexive notes. The first author conducted a chronological implementation analysis and reflexive thematic analysis, which identified four practice-based principles: prioritising sensory noticing over interpretation, establishing psychological safety before task completion, balancing structural consistency with responsive adaptation, and framing action-oriented activities as revisable attempts. Three themes characterised participants' reported experiences: greater openness to sensory and emotional experience, contextualised self-understanding through meaning-making, and movement towards feasible action. Participants also reported discomfort, interruptions, ambiguous experiences, and incomplete actions. These findings offer a contextually grounded account of how we refined MFAC and how participants interpreted their engagement. This study positions MFAC as a practice-informed approach rather than as evidence of therapeutic efficacy or causal psychological change. Future research employing diverse methodologies should examine its applicability and transferability to broader populations and settings.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Interoception, contemplative practice, and health Frontiers in Psychology June 9, 2015
- Mindfulness and Coaching to Improve Learning Abilities in University Students: A Pilot Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 16, 2020
- A scoping review of the literature on the concept and application of meditation coaching in Korea Asia Counseling and Coaching Society August 31, 2025
and 2 more in the library