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Boosting Psychological Well-Being through a Social Mindfulness-Based Intervention in the General Population

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa Fazia

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Francesco Bubbico

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Gerardo Salvato

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
    Cognitive Neuropsychology Centre, ASST “Grande Ospedale Metropolitano” Niguarda, 20162 Milano, Italy)

  • Giovanni Berzuini

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Salvatore Bruno

    (Istituto di Psicosintesi, 20124 Milano, Italy)

  • Gabriella Bottini

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
    Cognitive Neuropsychology Centre, ASST “Grande Ospedale Metropolitano” Niguarda, 20162 Milano, Italy)

  • Luisa Bernardinelli

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

Abstract

The benefits of mindfulness meditation among clinical and non-clinical populations have been largely reported in literature. Existing mindfulness-based programs are particularly useful in targeting specific populations while researchers have pointed out the possibility of developing programs adapted to the audience and the context. In this two-groups pre-post experimental design we developed a mindfulness-based social intervention program to target individuals from the general population. Here we present a two-groups pre-post experimental design to investigate its effectiveness on participants’ psychological functioning assessed by eight self-reported questionnaires (CORE-OM, FFMQ, SWLS, PANAS, PSS, SCS, WEMWBS, SHS) which encompass different domains of well-being, mindfulness and emotional functioning. Participants, recruited on voluntary basis, were randomly allocated to treated or passive control groups and were aware of group allocation. The intervention comprises a 12-week meditation training in a big group that represents the social aspect of meditation. Data were analysed via a linear mixed effect model and intention to treat. Statistically significant results were obtained for global score of CORE-OM (β = −0.20 [−0.30; −0.10], p = 0.0002), FFMQ (β = 0.20 [0.12; −0.28], p < 0.0001), SWLS (β = 1.43 [0.42; 2.45], p = 0.006), positive PANAS (β = 1.99 [0.95; 3.04], p = 0.0002), negative PANAS (β = −1.67 [−2.92; −0.43], p = 0.009), PSS (β = −2.98 [−4.25; −1.71], p < 0.0001), WEMWBS (β = 4.38 [2.93; 5.83], p < 0.0001) and SHS (β = 1.43 [0.42; 2.45], p = 0.006). Our intervention is causally associated with an improvement of the psychological functioning and hence can be considered as a preventive measure that may potentially reduce the risk of developing psychological problems and improve the subject’s general well-being. Given the voluntary recruitment, our inference only applies to those individuals who have decided to experience meditation as a way to well-being and not to a random person from the general population.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Fazia & Francesco Bubbico & Gerardo Salvato & Giovanni Berzuini & Salvatore Bruno & Gabriella Bottini & Luisa Bernardinelli, 2020. "Boosting Psychological Well-Being through a Social Mindfulness-Based Intervention in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8404-:d:444476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    2. Luca Iani & Marco Lauriola & Kristin Layous & Saulo Sirigatti, 2014. "Happiness in Italy: Translation, Factorial Structure and Norming of the Subjective Happiness Scale in a Large Community Sample," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 953-967, September.
    3. Sonja Kumlander & Oskari Lahtinen & Tiina Turunen & Christina Salmivalli, 2018. "Two is more valid than one, but is six even better? The factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, December.
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    1. Teresa Fazia & Francesco Bubbico & Andrea Nova & Salvatore Bruno & Davide Iozzi & Beril Calgan & Giancarlo Caimi & Michele Terzaghi & Raffaele Manni & Luisa Bernardinelli, 2023. "Beneficial Effects of an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Sleep Quality in Italian Poor Sleepers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Barili, Emilia & Bertoli, Paola & Grembi, Veronica & Rattini, Veronica, 2024. "COVID angels fighting daily demons? Mental well-being of healthcare workers and religiosity," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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