Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Improved Psychological Well-being: A Qualitative Examination of Participant Experiences.
Author: Shonin E, Van Gordon W, Griffiths MD.
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, UK, e.shonin@awaketowisdom.co.uk.
Conference/Journal: J Relig Health.
Date published: 2013 Feb 2
Other:
Word Count: 102
Mindfulness-based interventions are reported as being efficacious treatments for a variety of psychological and somatic conditions. However, concerns have arisen relating to how mindfulness is operationalized in mindfulness-based interventions and whether its 'spiritual essence' and full potential treatment efficacy have remained intact. This qualitative study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine participant experiences regarding the acceptability and effectiveness of a newly designed secularized intervention called meditation awareness training (MAT) that follows a more traditional Buddhist approach to meditation. Participants (with issues of stress and low mood) reported experiencing improvements in psychological well-being due to receiving MAT. The wider implications are discussed.
PMID: 23377964
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