Exploring the process of change and acceptability of mindfulness

Abstract

Mindfulness is becoming an increasingly popular intervention for affective disorders, such as depression. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is evidenced as being an effective intervention for reducing depressive relapse for people with three or more episodes of depression.

Little is known about how mindfulness actually works and how it reduces depressive relapse. Research has started exploring the mechanisms of change within mindfulness. The literature review will explore the evidence base for mechanisms of mindfulness and how this is currently understood.

The literature supporting MBCT as an effective intervention focuses on working age adults (18 – 64 years) whilst very few studies explore mindfulness as an intervention for older adults (over 65 years). Depression is prevalent in the older adult population and any potentially beneficial interventions should be considered for this cohort. The empirical paper focused on a mixed method design which explored the acceptability of mindfulness for older adults with depression. The qualitative sample, were interviewed before and after attending two introductory mindfulness group sessions. The transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis which identified six main themes: Life Cycle Changes, Relationships, Depression, Treatment, Attitudes Towards Mindfulness and Mindfulness Sessions. The themes were used to develop some survey items to explore attitudes towards mindfulness within the older adult population. The findings suggest that mindfulness could be acceptable for older adults with recurrent depression.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Felicity L. Bishop: orcid.org/0000-0002-8737-6662

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