Intervention integrity in mindfulness-based research: strengthening a key aspect of methodological rigor.
Current Opinion in Psychology October 5, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.09.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Biomedical research Research design |
| Key points | Argues that Mindfulness-Based Program research should routinely assess and report intervention integrity, including teaching quality and curriculum adherence, because these likely affect outcomes and their interpretation. Notes that three integrity-assessment tools exist but need further development, and proposes systematic verification methods to ensure rigor and enable valid comparison across studies. |
Abstract
To ensure methodological rigour, research on Mindfulness-Based Programs (MBPs) should include systems for assessing and reporting the integrity of the intervention. The critical variable of the quality of the teaching and the degree of adherence to the curriculum are likely to influence research outcomes and their interpretation. Currently, three tools for assessing intervention integrity in the MBP field have been developed, but they need further research and development. Research going forward needs to include systematic methods for demonstrating and verifying the integrity of the MBP, both to ensure the rigor of individual studies and to enable different studies of the same MBP to be fairly and validly compared with each other.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The role of decentering and self-compassion in self-esteem regulation: how meditation and metacognition shape the use of self-esteem regulation strategies Frontiers in Psychology July 10, 2026
- Feasibility of the Hemomindful Program: a mindfulness-based program performed during hemodialysis. Jornal brasileiro de nefrologia 2025
- A Brief Measure of Fidelity for Mindfulness Programs: Development and Evaluation of the Concise Fidelity for Mindfulness-Based Interventions Tool. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2023
- Tending the Field of Mindfulness-Based Programs: The Development of International Integrity Guidelines for Teachers and Teacher Training. Global Advances in Health and Medicine May 7, 2020
- The Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC): reflections on implementation and development. Current Opinion in Psychology October 9, 2018
Cites 12
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy March 1, 2002
and 7 more in the library