Mindfulness-based stress reduction: What processes are at work?

Dobkin, P. (2007)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been shown to be beneficial for clinical and non-clinical populations, however little work has been published concerning the processes underlying improvements seen.

Women who had completed medical treatment for breast cancer were asked to complete questionnaires pre- and post-MBSR and were interviewed to gain qualitative data, with the aim of exploring mechanisms underlying changes.

The Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale was found to be a useful process measure to assess changes in mindfulness.

The study corroborated that of Shapiro et al – that over time participants in an MBSR program "reperceive" what they encounter in their daily experiences.

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
(2007) Article in Press Corrected Proof

Link to Abstract

Link to Full Text