Do you mind? Examining public perceptions of mindfulness-based programs

Date
2020-06
Authors
Del Rosario, Nicole
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina
Abstract

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are designed to cultivate the capacity for mindfulness, defined as paying attention to present-moment experiences with purpose, openness, and non-judgement. Mindfulness has been associated with a host of benefits for users, such as improved indices of mental well-being. The current study examined public perceptions of the acceptability (i.e., how appropriate the treatment is for a given problem) and credibility (i.e., how logical and convincing a treatment seems) of MBPs as a psychological intervention for improved mental health. The current study assessed whether higher specificity of psychoeducational material can improve perceptions of MBPs. Demographic (age, gender) and psychological (mental health stigma) variables were assessed as correlates of acceptability and credibility perceptions of MBPs. Participants (n = 188; female % = 39.4) were recruited online and randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In condition one, participants (n = 96) were presented with balanced and evidence-based psychoeducation specific to MBPs for mental health. In condition two, participants (n = 92) were presented with general information about psychological treatments for mental health. All participants ranked their preference to engage with MBPs and completed questionnaires assessing treatment perceptions, stigma, and intrinsic spirituality. Participants exposed to general psychoeducation endorsed higher scores of acceptability post-psychoeducation, but participants exposed to specific psychoeducation did not. Results also suggested that participants endorsed higher scores of MBP credibility post-psychoeducation, regardless of the specificity of psychoeducation provided. Secondly, self-stigma was a significant negative predictor of MBP acceptability after accounting for age, gender, and public-stigma. Further, selfii stigma mediated the relationship between public stigma and MBP acceptability. None of the examined demographic or psychological variables emerged as a significant predictor of MBP credibility. The current results suggest that perceptions of the acceptability of MBPs are malleable to change following exposure to general psychoeducation, and that perceptions of the credibility of MBPs improve following psychoeducation, regardless of specificity. The current results also support a key role of self-stigma for perceptions of MBP acceptability. Examining public perceptions of MBPs, and demographic and psychological variables that may impact such perceptions, is important for informing strategies to support access to, and use of, MBPs.

Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of * in *, University of Regina. *, * p.
Keywords
Citation
Collections