Construction and evaluation of a mindfulness-based quality of life and well-being program (MQW) in a randomized trial

Abstract

Due to the multi-factorial nature of the self-report of happiness, an enhancement program was designed that focused on mental style (subjective processes), and relationships, work, money, health, and leisure (objective life domains). An examination of interventions revealed mindfulness training (subjective factors) and goal setting (objective factors) as effective change modalities. To address this, the Mindfulness-based Quality of Life and Well-being Program (MQW) was developed and evaluated against the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Quality of Life Index, Personal Wellbeing Index–Adult, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Satisfaction with Life scale, and the newly developed Clinical Quality of Life Scale (CLINQOL). To explore training protocol effects, the program was delivered in a graduated (6 weekly sessions x 2 hours) and intensive (2 consecutive days x 6 hours) format. Using a randomized trial, participants were allocated across these conditions and a control. A total of 191 participants completed the study and were assessed at pre, post and follow up time points. Increases in mindfulness, quality of life, subjective well-being, and positive and negative affect (not life satisfaction), were greater in treated (combined formats) than control participants at post-test, and for mindfulness at follow up. Other than an increase in mindfulness for the 2 day condition at follow up, changes were similar in both intervention formats. Finally, to investigate what unique difference the MQW might have in comparison to teaching just mindfulness, the full version of the program was compared to an expanded section of the mindfulness component of the program. A total of 74 subjects began the program and filled out assessments across the three time periods. There was no difference between groups or an interaction between group and time. Overall, the findings provide preliminary evidence that a multi-dimensional training approach, using mindfulness and goal setting, may be a beneficial intervention model to enhance subjective and objective components in the perception of quality of life and well-being. However, further investigation into its added benefit to mindfulness alone is required.

The effect of educational intervention according to mindfulness on the psychological well-being of female heads of households

“…As the present study drawn results indicated, the educational intervention has led to an increase in the mean psychological well-being of the experimental group compared to the control group, implying the effectiveness of training in promoting the psychological well-being of the experimental group. This finding was consistent with the results of various studies, such as the ones conducted by Ajilchi et al (2022) [ 25 ], Jones et al (2022) [ 26 ], Zheng et al (2022) [ 27 ], Monemiyan et al (2021) [ 28 ]. In many cases, of female heads of households are not aware of the appropriate behavior in times of hardship and show an inappropriate reaction to it unintentionally, but with training based on mindfulness, women can improve their knowledge of how to deal with hardship.…”

“…In study done by Ajilchi et al (2022) with the goal to find out the efffect of mindfulness-based training program on mental toughness and psychological well-being of female athletes, the result showed that mindfulness-based training program can be useful for psychological well-being [ 25 ]. Moreover, in the studies performed by Jones et al (2022) [ 26 ] and Zheng et al (2022) [ 27 ], the results were identical. These researchers reported that mindfulness-based intervention can improve psychological well-being and the quality of life [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Mindfulness and Nondual Well-Being – What is the Evidence that We Can Stay Happy?

“…Another departure is the meta-theoretical assumption, in Buddhist mindfulness theory, of the absence of a continuous self (Shonin, Van Gordon, Singh, & Griffiths, 2015), a construct that is wholly different from a robust sense of self and its perceived benefits (Guerrettaz & Arkin, 2016;Sheldon et al, 1997). There are, however, some examples of where the modern use of mindfulness extends its reach into some of the goals of traditional mindfulness (Lorenz, 2009), such as practices that teach, through observational or meta-awareness techniques, to non-judgmentally watch the fluctuating nature of the mind itself, which can lead to freedom from top down processes (Chiesa et al, 2013;Jones & Drummond, 2022;Siegel, 2007).…”

The construction of a new Clinical Quality of Life Scale (CLINQOL)

“…Temporal stability along with sensitivity to change is critical for measures of well-being as they must be robust enough to withstand momentary fluctuations in mood states and yet reflect genuine changes in subjective experience [46]. As reliability estimates are used to evaluate the stability of measures administered at different times to the same individuals, in a follow up study the CLINQOL was evaluated for its test-retest reliability [47].…”