Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Research Round-Up
The past is history and no longer exists. The future never arrives. Life can only be
experienced in the present moment. Mindfulness involves focussing awareness on
the present moment and paying attention, in real-time terms, to psychological and
sensory processes. Mindfulness derives from Buddhist practice where it is deemed
to constitute a form of spiritual training. In Buddhism, mindfulness comprises one
small part of the path to spiritual awakening.
As Buddhist teachers, we have practiced mindfulness for most of our adult lives.
However, about four years ago, we decided to commence a programme of empirical
research with the objective of helping to improve scientific understanding of
mindfulness and related contemplative techniques. The decision to do this was
influenced by our growing concern that the rate at which mindfulness is being
assimilated by academia (and Western society more generally) means that some
researchers, scholars, and Buddhist teachers have overlooked the need to (i)
consolidate and replicate research findings, (ii) clarify whether mindfulness (i.e., as it
is used in contemporary mindfulness-based interventions) continues to bear any
resemblance to the Buddhist model of mindfulness, (iii) investigate potential harmful
effects of mindfulness, (iv) control for a popularity effect in mindfulness
intervention studies, (v) formulate comprehensive training and supervision curricula
that are informed by the traditional meditation literature for secular mindfulness
instructors, and (vi) investigate the Buddhist position that mindfulness has limited
utility when isolated from the supporting meditative and spiritual techniques that
would traditionally accompany it.
Within the last four years, we have published (or submitted for publication) mostly
as first authors over 80 academic papers specifically relating to mindfulness and
related
contemplative
techniques
(i.e.,
peer-reviewed
papers,
professional/practitioner journal papers, academic book chapters, and books [over
230 publications within the last 4 years if one counts peer-reviewed papers on
subjects not directly related to mindfulness, conference papers, blog posts, etc.]).
Todays post provides a brief summary of findings from some of our key academic
papers relating to mindfulness and outlines their implications for the field of
mindfulness research and practice (see further reading list below for details of
specific papers referred to in this post).
Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Interventions
In order to address some of the aforementioned issues relating to mindfulness, an
important part of our research has explored the applications of a newly-developed
second generation of mindfulness-based intervention (SG-MBIs). SG-MBIs frame
mindfulness as a spiritual or psycho-spiritual practice and employ a greater range of
meditative techniques compared to first-generation mindfulness-based interventions
(FG-MBIs). More specifically, a part of our empirical work has focussed on assessing
the efficacy, versatility, and flexibility of an eight-week secular SG-MBI known as
Meditation Awareness Training (MAT). MAT has been the subject of empirical
investigation since 2010 and to our knowledge, it represents the first intervention
meeting all the criteria of a SG-MBI to be formally evaluated in research settings.
Findings from our research show that SG-MBIs (and more specifically MAT) may
have a role in the treatment of a range of health-related disorders including
fibromyalgia syndrome, work addiction, sex addiction, problem gambling,
schizophrenia, sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, and depression. Our published
research findings also indicate that MAT can lead to improvements in (for example)
job performance, goal attainment, decision-making competency, positive affect,
negative affect, dispositional mindfulness, civic engagement, non-attachment (to self
and symptoms), and job satisfaction.
In addition to helping to prompt an international programme of empirical
investigation into SG-MBIs (i.e., as a means of addressing some of the limitations of
FG-MBIs), other specific examples of how our research has helped to advance
scientific understanding are as follows:
Limitations
Findings from our research need to be considered in light of their limitations that
are discussed in detail in the various papers referred to in this post (see further
reading list below). However, a more general limitation of our research is that
although SG-MBIs have been presented as a means of addressing some of the
limitations of FG-MBIs, our research findings do not allow direct comparisons to
be drawn as to the relative effectiveness of FG- versus SG-MBIs. Accurately drawing
such conclusions would require the conducting of head-to-head comparison studies
in which the FG- and SG-MBI protocols are delivered under identical research
conditions (although it is acknowledged that effect size calculations as part of
rigorously conducted meta-analytical studies could provide an approximation of
relative effectiveness). Thus, our research could be criticised for relying too heavily
on supposition as to the necessity for SG-MBIs.
Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Garcia-Campayo, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017).
Can compassion cure health-related disorders? British Journal of General Practice, In
Press.
2.
Shonin, E., & Van Gordon W. (2017). The Mindful Warrior: The Path to Wellbeing.
Wisdom, and Awareness. [Trade book; In Press].
3.
4.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Dunn, T., Garcia-Campayo, J., & Griffiths, M. D.
(2016). Meditation Awareness Training for the treatment of fibromyalgia: A
randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Health Psychology, Advance Online
Publication, doi:10.1111/bjhp.12224.
5.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Buddhist emptiness
theory: Implications for psychology. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance
Online Publication, doi: 10.1037/rel0000079.
6.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Lomas, T., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Corporate
use of mindfulness and authentic spiritual transmission: Competing or
compatible ideals? Mindfulness and Compassion, 1, 75-83.
7.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Meditation Awareness
Training for the treatment of sex addiction: A case study. Journal of Behavioral
Addiction, 5, 363-372.
8.
Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W. (2016). The mechanisms of mindfulness in the
treatment of mental health and addiction. International Journal of Mental Health and
Addiction, 14, 844-849.
9.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Meditation Awareness
Training for individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome: An interpretative
phenomenological analysis of participants experiences. Mindfulness, 7, 409-419.
10. Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Mindfulness and
13. Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Are contemporary
at:
http://pro.psychcentral.com/the-four-types-of-psychologist-
ineffective-satisfactory-gifted-and-gone-beyond/0016491.html.
18. Shonin, E. (2015). Integrating Buddhist Practices and Principles into Mental Health
24. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Singh, N. N. (Eds). (2015). Buddhist Foundations
Practice. In: E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, & N. N. Singh (Eds). Buddhist Foundations
of Mindfulness (pp. 1-6). New York: Springer.
26. Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Griffiths, M. D., & Singh, N. N. (2015). Mindfulness
and the Four Noble Truths. In: E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, & N. N. Singh (Eds).
Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness (pp. 9-27). New York: Springer.
27. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Singh, N. N., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Mindfulness
of Emptiness and the Emptiness of Mindfulness. In: E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, & N.
N. Singh (Eds). Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness (pp. 159-178). New York:
Springer.
28. Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Griffiths, M. D., & Singh, N. N. (2015). There is
only one mindfulness: Why science and Buddhism need to work together.
Mindfulness, 6, 49-56.
29. Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W. (2015). Mindfulness of ignorance. Mindfulness, 6,
1487-1490.
30. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Compare, A., Zangeneh, M., & Griffiths, M. D.
6, 141-145.
34. Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). For the mindful teaching of
35. Shonin, E., & Van Gordon W., & Griffiths, M. D. (Eds). (2015). Mindfulness and
Mindfulness for the treatment of psychosis: State of the art and future
developments. In: E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, & M. D. Griffiths (Eds).
Mindfulness and Buddhist-derived Approaches in Mental Health and Addiction (pp. 211244). Gewerbestrasse (Switzerland): Springer.
37. Shonin, E. (2015). This is not McMindfulness by any stretch of the imagination:
38. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Mindfulness and
therapies have a role in the treatment of psychosis? Australia and New Zealand
Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 124-127.
42. Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Sumich, A., Sundin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014).
Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for psychological wellbeing in a subclinical sample of university students: A controlled pilot study. Mindfulness,
5, 381-391.
43. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Dunn, T., Singh, N., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014).
related mental health and job performance: Can mindfulness help? International
Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12, 129-137.
46. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Mindfulness and the
466.
52. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Current trends in
mindfulness and mental health. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction,
12, 113-115.
53. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) and Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for the treatment of
co-occurring schizophrenia with pathological gambling: A case study.
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12, 181-196.
54. Shonin, E., Van Gordon W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Mindfulness as a
54.
60. Shonin, E., Van Gordon W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Practical tips for teaching
medication: Are attitudes changing? British Journal of General Practice, 63, 654.
67. Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W. (2013). The consuming mind. Mindfulness, 5, 345-
347.
68. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based
Mindfulness, 5, 105-107.
72. Shonin, E., Van Gordon W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Meditation for the
73. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based
therapy: A tool for Spiritual Growth? Thresholds: Quarterly Journal of the Association
for Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Counselling (Journal of the British Association for
Counselling and Psychotherapy), Summer Issue, 14-18.
74. Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W. & Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based
living mindfully: Learning from Zen artistic principles. Manuscript Under Review.
78. Garcia-Campayo, J., Demarzo, M., Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W. (2016).
Are the adverse effects associated with mindfulness? Manuscript Under Review.
80. Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Dunn, T., Garcia-Campayo, J., Demarzo, M., &