Date of Award
Fall 2024
Language
English
Embargo Period
10-11-2026
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
College/School/Department
Department of Psychology
Program
Clinical Psychology
First Advisor
John Forsyth
Committee Members
Mitch Earleywine
Keywords
Acceptance, Psychological Inflexibility, Psychological Flexibility, Meditation, Mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Subject Categories
Psychological Phenomena and Processes
Abstract
Objectives: The widespread availability of mindfulness-based practices has led to growing concern about the potential for misuse, namely the use of such practices as a control-based strategy rather than in an acceptance-based manner consistent with research. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate factors (e.g., mode of instruction, meditation experience, psychological [in]flexibility [PF/PI]) that may relate to intentions guiding meditation use. Methods: Self-taught (ST) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) meditators (N = 122, Mage = 46.54, SDage = 16.49, 65.6% Female) completed a battery of measures assessing meditation intentions (control- or acceptance-based), meditation experience (in months), PF/PI, psychological distress, and satisfaction with life. Results: Control-based intentions covaried with worse psychological outcomes while acceptance-based intentions covaried with better outcomes. Meditation intentions and outcomes did not discriminate between ST and MBSR groups. Yet, satisfaction with life was significantly greater in the MBSR group relative to the ST group. PF fully mediated relations between meditation experience and acceptance-based intentions, whereas PI fully mediated relations between meditation experience and control-based intentions. Conclusion: Meditation experience, rather than mode of instruction, appears to influence whether meditation is used in an acceptance- or control-based context. Mediational findings suggest that such relations work through PF/PI processes. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate whether meditation intentions change over time and the extent to which such changes influence the acceptability and utility of meditation itself.
License
This work is licensed under the University at Albany Standard Author Agreement.
Recommended Citation
Howard, Leah, "EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF INSTRUCTION MODE AND EXPERIENCE ON MEDITATION INTENTIONS AND OUTCOMES IN SELF-TAUGHT MEDITATORS AND MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION COMPLETERS" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 50.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/50