Intra-individual study of mindfulness: ecological momentary perspective in post-surgical lung cancer patients.
Mariya P Shiyko, Brian Siembor, Paul B Greene, Joshua M. Smyth, Jack E Burkhalter
Journal of Behavioral Medicine July 10, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-018-9942-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using ecological momentary assessment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Stage I lung cancer patients recovering after surgery, mindfulness-untrained, 61% women, mean age 66.1 years (SD 7.9) |
| Duration | Two weeks of ecological momentary assessment, twice daily |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Lung neoplasms Postoperative period Middle aged Female Ecological momentary assessment Intra-individual variability Lung cancer patients Within-person dynamics |
| Key findings | Mean momentary mindfulness was low (.49 on a 5-point scale) and older participants were less likely to endorse mindful states. Most participants showed only modest within-person variability (mean person-based SD = .42), and 56.2% of variance in mindfulness scores was at the momentary level, 41.4% between individuals, and 2.4% temporal. The authors indicate that the innate ability to exhibit mindfulness is limited in cancer patients recovering from surgery. |
Abstract
The period of recovery following a lung-cancer surgery presents unique challenges and psychological demands. The study utilized ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to repeatedly sample mindfulness states in a sample of mindfulness-untrained individuals following hospital discharge. Intra- and inter- individual variability was assessed to examine cancer patients' natural capacity to exhibit mindfulness states during two weeks of recovery. Fifty nine stage I lung cancer patients (61% women, mean age = 66.1, SD = 7.9) completed EMA twice a day for two weeks. Mean level of mindfulness in the sample was low and equaled .49 (SD = .51) on the 5 point scale, with older participants being less likely to endorse mindful states. Net variability in mindfulness, defined as the person-based standard deviation in momentary scores, equaled .42 (SD = .26), ranging for 0 to 1.3 and indicating very modest variability for most participants. Results of the multi-level variance partitioning model revealed 41.4% of variance in mindfulness scores at the inter-individual, 2.4% on the temporal (i.e., .2% weekly and 2.2% daily), and 56.2% on the momentary levels. Findings indicate that, for cancer patients recovering from surgery, the innate ability to exhibit mindfulness is limited. From the methodological standpoint, consideration of intra-individual variability has implications for conceptualization and design of EMA studies.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 18
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
and 13 more in the library