title: Perceptions, experiences, and shifts in perspective occurring among urban youth participating in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program.
abstract: Interest in mindfulness as a tool to improve health and well-being has increased rapidly over the past two decades. Limited qualitative research has been conducted on mindfulness and health. This study utilized in-depth interviews to explore the context, perceptions, and experiences of a sub-set of participants engaged in an acceptability study of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) among urban youth. Content analysis revealed that all in-depth interview participants reported experiencing some form of positive benefit and enhanced self-awareness as a result of MBSR program participation. Significant variation in the types and intensity of changes occurring was identified, ranging from a reframing and reduction of daily stressors to transformational shifts in life orientation and well-being. Variations in perceptions of and experiences with mindfulness should be studied in further depth in the context of prospective intervention research, including their potentially differential influence on mental and physical health outcomes.
authors: Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. dkerriga@jhsph.edu
authors: Deanna
authors: D
authors: Kerrigan
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Johnson
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Stewart
authors: Trish
authors: T
authors: Magyari
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Hutton
authors: Jonathan M
authors: JM
authors: Ellen
authors: Erica M S
authors: EM
authors: Sibinga
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019369:Life; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D010465:Perception; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult