BACKGROUND:Most of the many studies on the efficacy of meditation on anxiety disorders over the past half century have been quantitatively studied and lacked consensus. Studies into the experiences of meditation practitioners are lacking. Taiwan has a high prevalence of generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), and Zen meditation is popular.
PURPOSE:
This study provides a deeper understanding of Zen meditation practice experience among patients with GAD in Taiwan.
METHODS:
The study site was a psychiatric outpatient department in a general hospital in Taiwan. Two groups of adult patients with GAD (n = 9) and without any kind of meditation experience (n = 12) enrolled in and attended a Zen meditation program. Heidegger's phenomenology was the core framework used to guide data interpretation. Researchers used six-session focus groups, diaries, and field notes to collect data. To boost trustworthiness, researchers applied investigator triangulation, data triangulation, prolonged engagement, persistent observation, and group debriefing (feedback).
RESULTS:
A major theme, "The process of Zen meditation," emerged. It was underpinned by the three categories: "struggling to reach a state of calm," "signs of improvement," and "an individual process." Signs of improvement included "finding a personal way to enter a state of calm," "changing the sense of time," and "adjusting Zen meditation practice goals."
CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
The there-being state (dasein) of participants shaped their understanding of Zen meditation practice. Findings revealed the diverse "phenomena-featuring process" aspect of Zen meditation practice. Findings provide a better understanding of essential elements of Zen meditation complementing quantitative studies and may be used by professionals who intend to apply Zen meditation as an alternative therapy for patients with GAD.
In this chapter, the author examines how her approach to teaching Race and Ethnicity has evolved over the years, and the fears, challenges, and joys she have experienced. Most of the white students and students of color who enroll in her Race and Ethnicity course have a genuine desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of different racial and ethnic groups, but they want to do it in a safe classroom environment. The driving force behind author's pedagogy is to make her classes culturally relevant to all my students. In order to achieve this goal, she incorporates three major components of culturally responsive teaching: caring, communication, and curriculum development. Care and empathy are the essential building blocks in creating a strong learning community. The guiding principles of culturally responsive pedagogy frame many of her specific instructional practices.
Classroom circles have been recognized as a valuable pedagogical approach to develop students' social-emotional learning and to establish a sense of community within a classroom. Until recently, there has been little consideration that teachers, themselves, may benefit from circling experiences. To garner a deeper understanding of circling for teachers, this study examined teacher candidates' experiences with circling in a teacher education course. Focus groups with former teacher candidates procured three themes: circling creates safe and engaging spaces for learning, productive tensions create opportunities for connection, and, teachers create effective circles with authenticity. The results suggest that circling should be similarly used with educators, in addition to use with students, and could be embedded within current teacher-education programming. (English)
Classroom circles have been recognized as a valuable pedagogical approach to develop students' social-emotional learning and to establish a sense of community within a classroom. Until recently, there has been little consideration that teachers, themselves, may benefit from circling experiences. To garner a deeper understanding of circling for teachers, this study examined teacher candidates' experiences with circling in a teacher education course. Focus groups with former teacher candidates procured three themes: circling creates safe and engaging spaces for learning, productive tensions create opportunities for connection, and, teachers create effective circles with authenticity. The results suggest that circling should be similarly used with educators, in addition to use with students, and could be embedded within current teacher-education programming. (English)
Objectives. We sought to test the hypothesis that providing help to others predicts a reduced association between stress and mortality., Methods. We examined data from participants (n = 846) in a study in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Participants completed baseline interviews that assessed past-year stressful events and whether the participant had provided tangible assistance to friends or family members. Participant mortality and time to death was monitored for 5 years by way of newspaper obituaries and monthly state death-record tapes., Results. When we adjusted for age, baseline health and functioning, and key psychosocial variables, Cox proportional hazard models for mortality revealed a significant interaction between helping behavior and stressful events (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58; P < .05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35, 0.98). Specifically, stress did not predict mortality risk among individuals who provided help to others in the past year (HR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.79, 1.18), but stress did predict mortality among those who did not provide help to others (HR = 1.30; P < .05; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.62)., Conclusions. Helping others predicted reduced mortality specifically by buffering the association between stress and mortality.
OBJECTIVES:Stress is a well-known predictor of smoking relapse, and cortisol is a primary biomarker of stress. The current pilot study examined changes in levels of cortisol in hair within the context of two time-intensity matched behavioral smoking cessation treatments: mindfulness training for smokers and a cognitive-behavioral comparison group.
PARTICIPANTS:
Eighteen participants were recruited from a larger randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation.
OUTCOME MEASURES:
Hair samples (3 cm) were obtained 1 month after quit attempt, allowing for a retrospective analysis of hair cortisol at preintervention and post-quit attempt time periods. Self-reported negative affect was also assessed before and after treatment.
INTERVENTION:
Both groups received a 7-week intensive intervention using mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral strategies.
RESULTS:
Cortisol significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month after quit attempt in the entire sample (d=-0.35; p=.005). In subsequent repeated-measures analysis of variance models, time by group and time by quit status interaction effects were not significant. However, post hoc paired t tests yielded significant pre-post effects among those randomly assigned to the mindfulness condition (d=-0.48; p=.018) and in those abstinent at post-test (d=-0.41; p=.004). Decreased hair cortisol correlated with reduced negative affect (r=.60; p=.011).
CONCLUSIONS:
These preliminary findings suggest that smoking cessation intervention is associated with decreased hair cortisol levels and that reduced hair cortisol may be specifically associated with mindfulness training and smoking abstinence. RESULTS support the use of hair cortisol as a novel objective biomarker in future research.
BackgroundDepression is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in coronary heart disease. Numerous conventional and complementary therapies may address depression. Few involving spirituality have been tested.
Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a nondenominational spiritual retreat, Medicine for the Earth (MFTE), on depression and other measures of well-being six- to 18-months post acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Design/Setting
A randomized controlled pilot study of MFTE, Lifestyle Change Program (LCP), or usual cardiac care (control) was conducted in Southeastern Michigan.
Participants
ACS patients were recruited via local and national advertising (n = 58 enrolled, 41 completed).
Interventions
The four-day MFTE intervention included guided imagery, meditation, drumming, journal writing, and nature-based activities. The four-day LCP included nutrition education, exercise, and stress management. Both retreat groups received follow-up phone coaching biweekly for three months.
Main Outcome Measures
Validated self-report scales of depression, spiritual well-being, perceived stress, and hope were collected at baseline, immediately post-retreat, and at three and six months.
Results
Depression was not significantly different among groups (P = .21). However, the MFTE group had the highest depression scores at baseline and had significantly lower scores at all postintervention time points (P ≤ .002). Hope significantly improved among MFTE participants, an effect that persisted at three- and six-month follow-up (P = .014). Although several measures showed improvement in all groups by six months, the MFTE group had immediate improvement post-retreat, which was maintained.
Conclusions
This pilot study shows that a nondenominational spiritual retreat, MFTE, can be used to increase hope while reducing depression in patients with ACS.
Evidence is accumulating that mindfulness training is useful in reducing stress for health care workers and may increase the quality of their interactions with patients. To evaluate how health care workers experience mindfulness training, a review was conducted, synthesising published qualitative papers on the experiences of health care workers currently practising or those in clinical training who had attended mindfulness training. A systematic search yielded 14 relevant studies. Quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills programme tool identified that four studies were of a lower quality, and as they did not contribute uniquely to the analysis, they were omitted from the review. The synthesis describes health care workers’ experiences of overcoming challenges to practice in mindfulness training, such as shifting focus from caring for others to self-care, leading to an experiential understanding of mindfulness and a new relationship to experience. Perceived benefits of mindfulness training ranged from increased personal wellbeing and self-compassion to enhanced presence when relating to others, leading to enhanced compassion and a sense of shared humanity. Outcomes are discussed in terms of training focus and participant motivation, clinical and theoretical implications and avenues for further research.
<p>The beliefs many Buddhists hold about pain and death may cause them to refuse pain medication for a terminal illness. Nurses can explain options that will not effect the patient's alertness for facing death, but they should respect their patient's wishes.</p>
Sleep insufficiency, defined as inadequate sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, has been linked with students' learning and behavioral outcomes at school. However, there is limited research on interventions designed to improve the sleep of school-age children. In order to promote more interest on this critical topic, we examine yoga and hypnosis as two approaches that can improve multiple aspects of sleep. Some studies have shown the benefits of hypnotic relaxation on school performance, but no controlled studies have examined sleep as an outcome in school children. The studies on school-based yoga are currently inconclusive, with effects ranging from positive to negative. Some replicated studies of yoga show modest effects on mood, but none of the published yoga studies measured sleep outcomes. Given the importance of sleep on school functioning, there is an urgent need to study the effects of hypnosis and yoga, or other promising interventions, on sleep and student performance. Examples of promising practices for improving sleep and school-related issues are provided.
Using data for 25,780 species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we present an assessment of the status of the world’s vertebrates. One-fifth of species are classified as Threatened, and we show that this figure is increasing: On average, 52 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians move one category closer to extinction each year. However, this overall pattern conceals the impact of conservation successes, and we show that the rate of deterioration would have been at least one-fifth again as much in the absence of these. Nonetheless, current conservation efforts remain insufficient to offset the main drivers of biodiversity loss in these groups: agricultural expansion, logging, overexploitation, and invasive alien species.Though the threat of extinction is increasing, overall declines would have been worse in the absence of conservation.
Though the threat of extinction is increasing, overall declines would have been worse in the absence of conservation.
Purpose: Mindfulness-based interventions – which train capacities for attention, awareness, compassion, and self-regulation of thoughts and emotions – may offer unique benefits for urban youth exposed to chronic stress and adversity. Urban schools are promising settings in which to integrate mindfulness-based interventions; however, they pose complex challenges for intervention implementation and evaluation. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reflects on the experiences of our community-academic partnership conducting two school-based randomised trials on a mindfulness and yoga programme. The programme was developed by the Holistic Life Foundation and was delivered to middle school students in public schools serving disadvantaged urban communities. Findings: This paper discusses barriers and facilitating factors related to effective intervention delivery and evaluation, presents recommendations for future work and reflects on the potential benefits of mindfulness-based practices for students, teachers and schools.
Purpose: Mindfulness-based interventions – which train capacities for attention, awareness, compassion, and self-regulation of thoughts and emotions – may offer unique benefits for urban youth exposed to chronic stress and adversity. Urban schools are promising settings in which to integrate mindfulness-based interventions; however, they pose complex challenges for intervention implementation and evaluation. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reflects on the experiences of our community-academic partnership conducting two school-based randomised trials on a mindfulness and yoga programme. The programme was developed by the Holistic Life Foundation and was delivered to middle school students in public schools serving disadvantaged urban communities. Findings: This paper discusses barriers and facilitating factors related to effective intervention delivery and evaluation, presents recommendations for future work and reflects on the potential benefits of mindfulness-based practices for students, teachers and schools.
Objectives: The study aimed (1) to investigate changes in older adults’ emotional wellbeing (specifically depression, anxiety and stress levels) and mindful ability following a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course; (2) to explore correlations between mindfulness (measured as an overall ability and as individual components; observe, describe, act with awareness and accept without judgement) and changes in depression, anxiety and stress levels.Method: Twenty-two participants took an eight-week MBCT course. Levels of depression, anxiety and stress were recorded pre- and post-intervention, as was mindfulness ability (measured both as an overall ability and as individual components).
Results: Significant improvements in emotional wellbeing and mindfulness were reported post-MBCT, with large to moderate effect sizes. Increased mindfulness was moderately and significantly associated with improved emotional wellbeing. Increases on all four components of mindfulness were positively associated with greater emotional wellbeing, however only act with awareness and accept without judgement were significantly correlated (with reduced depression). Older adults in our sample reported higher scores on observe and act with awareness than other populations.
Conclusion: This study adds to a growing evidence-base indicating the efficacy of MBCT for depression, anxiety and stress, and extends these finding to older adults. This study found older adults to have elevated levels of certain facets of mindfulness and recommendations are made for researching the possibility that mindfulness may be an extension of the developmental process.
The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively evaluate the impact of therapeutic horticulture (TH) on social integration for people who have mental health problems. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative grounded theory approach captured the perceptions about TH from people with mental health problems. Data were collected using semi-structured focus group and interviews from a purposive sample (n=7) and were analysed using a constant comparative approach. Findings Four key themes emerged from the analysis: “a space to grow”, “seeing the person”, “learning about each other through nature” and “connecting to nature and others”. The findings suggest that TH enabled participants to integrate socially, engage with nature and develop confidence. Research limitations/implications TH is a potential approach that can help combat social isolation. The findings from this research have implications for people working towards supporting people who are socially excluded. However, this was a pilot study with a small sample size of seven people with mental health problems, whilst four key themes emerged, the saturation of concepts rather than the sample size were saturated to provide an emic perspective of the phenomena. Practical implications TH provides a person centred approach that enables people with mental health problems to re-engage and connect with their fellow human beings. Using TH could help improve the public health and well-being of local communities through re-connecting people to the environment and reduce social isolation. Social implications TH embody the principles of empowerment, person centeredness and can support people with mental health problems to integrate socially. Originality/value There is limited evidence about the influence that TH have on mental health and social integration. The use of TH is an area that is gathering evidence and this small study highlights the perceived potential benefits of this approach.
One of a series of workplace education modules, this document presents the Mind Fitness module, designed to help determine students' learning styles and create successful learners in the workplace. An introduction describes the framework of the module, indicating that it utilizes four types of exercises to work with feeling-directed, intellect-directed, body-directed, and intuition-directed learning styles, respectively. The first section, a learning check-up designed for feeling-directed learners, presents information on why learning is important with exercises that allow students to share past learning experiences. The second section presents warm-up exercises designed for intellect-directed learners and includes activities related to determining students' learning style, identifying with specific learning styles, and solving time management issues. The third section is focused on "doers," or body-directed learners, and includes activities related to understanding how different learners approach problems, understanding how learning styles affect communication, and observing different learning styles in decision-making. The fourth section, geared toward intuitive learners, provides activities related to stimulating creative thinking, understanding listening techniques, becoming aware of learning potential, and practicing prioritizing goals. The final section provides instructors with additional activities for developing Mind Fitness classes.
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