ABSTRACT
Background
Despite evidence for the benefits of long-term sustained practice, there is a limited availability of evidence-based follow-on mindfulness-based programs for those who participated in the initial 8-week program. Therefore, we developed and evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed follow-on group program that aims to broaden and deepen mindfulness and compassion skills in daily life and in contact with others.
Methods
In total, 55 course participants completed validated questionnaires before and after the course. Five teachers providing the program reported on their treatment adherence and participants’ attendance. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used.
Results
Teachers’ adherence was high as well as participants’ attendance. Regarding acceptability, participants reported a high satisfaction with the program and perceived improvements in their mindful presence, bodily awareness, self-care, mindful communication, sense of connection to themselves and others and a reduced reactivity in daily activities and in contact with others. Exploratory pre-post intervention analyses showed significant changes in bodily awareness, mindfulness, interpersonal mindfulness and self-compassion. Mental health did not significantly change over time.
Conclusions
This new follow-on mindfulness-based group program was found to be highly feasible and acceptable. While preliminary, these promising findings warrant larger scale controlled research in more heterogenous samples, to examine more robustly (moderators of) the short- and long-term efficacy of the program and its underlying mechanisms. Mindfulness teachers who want to offer this program are encouraged to first do a specialised training and supervision, to learn how to teach this program as intended.