Abstract
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a secular behavioral medicine program that has roots in meditative spiritual practices.
Thus, spirituality may partly explain Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction outcomes. Participants (N = 279; M (SD) age = 45(12); 75% women) completed an online survey before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.
Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that, following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, the relationship
between enhanced mindfulness and improved health-related quality of life is mediated by increased daily spiritual experiences.
Changes in both spirituality and mindfulness were significantly related to improvement in mental health. Although the initial
mediation hypothesis was not supported, an alternate model suggested that enhanced mindfulness partly mediated the association
between increased daily spiritual experiences and improved mental health-related quality of life (indirect effect: β = 0.07,
P = 0.017). Effects on physical health-related quality of life were not significant. Findings suggest a novel mechanism by
which increased daily spiritual experiences following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction may partially explain improved mental
health as a function of greater mindfulness.
Thus, spirituality may partly explain Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction outcomes. Participants (N = 279; M (SD) age = 45(12); 75% women) completed an online survey before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.
Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that, following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, the relationship
between enhanced mindfulness and improved health-related quality of life is mediated by increased daily spiritual experiences.
Changes in both spirituality and mindfulness were significantly related to improvement in mental health. Although the initial
mediation hypothesis was not supported, an alternate model suggested that enhanced mindfulness partly mediated the association
between increased daily spiritual experiences and improved mental health-related quality of life (indirect effect: β = 0.07,
P = 0.017). Effects on physical health-related quality of life were not significant. Findings suggest a novel mechanism by
which increased daily spiritual experiences following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction may partially explain improved mental
health as a function of greater mindfulness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-011-9332-x
- Authors
- Jeffrey M. Greeson, Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102904, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Daniel M. Webber, Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102904, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Moria J. Smoski, Cognitive and Behavioral Research and Treatment Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
- Jeffrey G. Brantley, Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102904, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Andrew G. Ekblad, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON Canada
- Edward C. Suarez, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
- Ruth Quillian Wolever, Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102904, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715