Mindfulness programmes: two opposing viewpoints

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 20, 2022

Are mindfulness-based programmes universal? Two opposing viewpoints: mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are currently popular and widespread worldwide

Let’s talk about Mindfulness

They are group programmes available in both online and face-to-face modes.

They are also applied in non-clinical contexts, e.g. many companies promote mindfulness as part of their employee wellness programmes, and we are also seeing their widespread use in schools, sports and prisons.

MBPs include the most famous Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) by Kabat-Zinn (2005), the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) by Segal et al. (2012), originally for depression relapse prevention, the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) by Neff and Germer (2018) and the Interpersonal Mindfulness Program (IMP) by Kramer (2008). Just to name a few.

Mindfulness: each programme addresses a different aspect e.g. stress reduction, depressive relapse, relationships, etc

These programmes are manualised and the agenda of the group work promoted by the presenter(s), including the introduction of mindfulness practices and psycho-education, follows a set procedure regardless of who or where it is taught.

A Singaporean researcher, Barry Tse, questioned whether MBPs are conceived and developed in a culturally neutral manner?

From a historical perspective, says Tse, although recognised as having their philosophical and practical roots in Buddhism, these programmes are developed and adapted for those living in Western societies.

Currently, Tse continues, MPS has also gained popularity in the East, but no one knows for sure whether MBPs are equally effective when practised in a different culture.

In the United States, a recent systematic review of 94 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) revealed a lack of demographic diversity in the samples composed predominantly of white, highly educated, middle-aged women (Eichel et al., 2021).

Tse concludes that the bias in demographic data should be kept in mind before one can conclude the universality of the effect of mindfulness when applied to different cultures and demographic groups.

They take a diametrically opposed view, Williams and Kabat-Zinn (2011) who assume the universality of their efficacy and their applicability to culturally diverse countries, an assumption theirs based on the universality of the Dharma i.e. the teachings of the Buddha.

References:

Eichel K., Gawande R., Acabchuk R. L., Palitsky R., Chau S., Pham A., et al.. (2021). A retrospective systematic review of diversity variables in mindfulness research, 2000–2016. Mindfulness 12, 2573–2592. 10.1007/s12671-021-01715-4.

Tse B. (2022) Questioning the Universality of Mindfulness-Based Programs: Reflections From a Self-Construal Perspective. Front Psychol. Jun 14;13:908503.

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