Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Mindfulness On Perceived Stress And Academic Performance Among English Language Students In Central Asia, Laurie Wolfe

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The current study investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness training in reducing stress and increasing academic performance among Uzbek English language students. The researcher partnered with four English faculty at Tashkent State Pedagogical University (TSPU) to conduct a quasi-experimental study using a convenience sample of sixty 2^nd year students studying English as a foreign language. One group of students (n = 30) received mindfulness training while the acted as an active control group (n = 30) and received study skills training. Both groups received 20-minutes training in their English classes, four days a week, for 4-weeks. All participants …

Preschool Children Learn About Regulating Emotions, Elisa Camacho

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project was done to teach preschool children how to self-regulate, as well as see what they know about self-regulation.

Integrated Behavioral-Health Supports: Combining Pbis And Sel At Tier 2, Thomas K. Franzmann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Childhood behavior problems present many challenges for youth, families, and schools. To assist in preventing and reducing such problems, schools have adopted various strategies to assist with such concerns. Two widely used strategies for addressing problem behavior in schools are Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). While both have a plethora of evidence of their effectiveness independently, less is known as to whether than can compliment one another for even better outcomes. The current study examined the effectiveness of an integrated approach (PBIS + SEL) to classroom intervention for elementary school students exhibiting behavior problems. This …

A Mindful Search For Basic Writing Identities: Constellating Contemplative Classroom Pedagogies, Classroom Community Circles, And Critical Discourse Analysis In A Cultural Rhetorics Ecology, Elizabeth Edwards Weems

English Theses & Dissertations

Many Basic Writing students have stories which are informed by traumas, othering, and marginalization. Finding pedagogies which address students’ stories, in addition to meeting academic goals, is crucial. Sometimes, students question how improving their reading and writing skills can help them navigate other areas of their education and experiences, especially their lives outside of academia. I have worked to create a kairotic pedagogy which invites students to read and write ‘the word and the world’ (Freire, 1970; 1988). Using Contemplative Classroom Pedagogies, I attempted to follow Freire’s (1992) call to make “teaching a creative act, a critical act, and not …

Making Mindfulness More Accessible: A Practical Guide To Trauma-Informed Mindfulness, Leslie Formby

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Mindfulness is currently embedded in a growing understanding of how trauma permeates and adversely impacts peoples’ physical and psychological well-being. Increased awareness of the prevalence of trauma and its harmful effects has led to renewed interest in mindfulness to help manage the challenges generated by the detrimental effects of trauma.

These effects may draw people to mindfulness and, in turn, may make the benefits of mindfulness out of reach. Mindfulness methods and practice adaptations have been found to help trauma survivors experience the benefits of what the Buddha taught. As a support for those engaging in mindfulness and meditation, this …

Using Mindfulness To Enhance Interactive Reasoning In Elementary School Occupational Therapists, Elizabeth Rymarczyk

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Abstract

Occupational therapists (OTs) working in school settings must contend with student dysregulation, student skill deficits, staffing shortages, and increased workloads. The aftermath of COVID-19 has also played a role in exacerbating these issues. Mindfulness, with its focus on the present moment in a compassionate and non-judgmental way, has shown promising results in the area of occupational therapy. Though the research is encouraging, there are many gaps and unexplored areas, especially regarding school-based therapy. This paper first explores the current research, including current uses of mindfulness in occupational therapy and gaps related to mindfulness and occupational therapy. One particular model …

A Thought Is Just A Thought: A Buddhist Guide To Ocd, Naomi Matlow

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Evidence-based studies have shown that individuals can significantly recover from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder through the Cognitive Behavioural Therapies of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). However once the affliction is no longer categorized as a disorder in accordance with the diagnostic criteria, the process of thought, and often intrusive thought, remains. The OCD cycle of "thought to anxiety to compulsion” stems from a desire to reduce the suffering that the initial thought causes. This suffering comes in the form of negative feelings which often lead to compulsive behavior. The Buddhist path lays out a method for …

Evaluating The Benefits Of Mindfulness Based Practices In The Hospital Setting: A Case For Mindful Communication Interventions For Nurses, Annie Kaplon

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Recent stressors, such as COVID-19, have provided new challenges for healthcare workers, especially nurses, and have contributed to the increase in burnout rates in the hospital setting. Therefore, relief in this space is critical. Ample research demonstrates that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may help to improve well-being among healthcare providers more broadly. Literature supports that the practice of mindful communication, in particular, is helpful, not only in improving patient outcomes, but also in decreasing interpersonal stress among healthcare workers. This paper analyzes and synthesizes relevant studies, both qualitative and quantitative, and argues that mindful communication training improves the workplace environment for …

The Role Of Trait Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, And Impulsivity In Understanding The Relationship Between Stress Mindset And Psychological Intimate Partner Aggression, Sarah Joyanna Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

Perpetration of psychological intimate partner aggression is a pervasive health issue and has been estimated to occur in 60 to 90 percent of relationships. Effects of intimate partner violence on its victims has been demonstrated to have lasting physical and mental health issues. Psychological intimate partner aggression has been demonstrated to have particularly harmful effects, above and beyond those identified in physical intimate partner aggression. Psychological intimate partner aggression has been demonstrated to be impacted by impulsivity, stress-mindset, perceived stress, and mindfulness. The present study proposed to examine a path analysis model of the relation between stress-mindset and psychological intimate …

Evaluating The Effects Of A Teacher-Implemented Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Teacher Stress And Student Prosocial Behavior, Mary L. Phan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

High levels of teacher stress have a negative impact on teacher performance, maintenance, and student outcomes. Given the escalation in teacher stress levels, it is important to decrease teacher stress to improve their wellbeing. One intervention that has received growing attention in reducing teacher stress is mindfulness training. However, few studies have focused on teachers implementing mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) both with themselves and with school-age children within their classrooms. Additionally, few studies have examined the fidelity, feasibility, and social validity of teacher-implemented MBIs in a classroom setting. Through a single-case multiple baseline design across four teachers, the current study evaluated …

Self-Compassion For Counselors-In-Training, Sydney Iwanski

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

This paper examines the concept of self-compassion and how counselors-in-training (CITs) can develop and refine their self-compassion practice to improve their experience during the counseling practicum semester of their graduate studies. First, this paper will discuss the definitions of self-compassion, the benefits of self-compassion, and things to be aware of in beginning self-compassion work. Then, the paper will discuss the needs of beginning counselors with special attention to the practicum semester. Finally, this paper will provide suggestions for the specific ways self-compassion can help CITs progress in their practice and studies with special attention to supervision, attending to clients in …

Examining The Benefits Of Adding Mindfulness-Based Programs In The Curriculum Of Undergraduate And Graduate Social Work Programs: A Review Of Literature, Sarah M. Dickerson

Honors Thesis

Undergraduate and graduate students are often enveloped in an array of stress and anxiety, and it is no surprise that undergraduate and graduate social work students are faced with high amounts of stress due to vicarious trauma as a result of exposure to via coursework and experiential learning. It also comes as no surprise that social work professionals are exposed to numerous stressors causing the burnout rate for social workers to be high. Mindfulness techniques are used in various cultures and religions around the world with the purpose of synching mind and body. Using mindfulness techniques, individuals can be fully …

The Breath As A Holistic Regulator: An Expressive Arts Therapy Community Project, Jacobita Munoz

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone offers the idea that evolution has challenged appropriate breathing and led humans to breathe incorrectly, thus negatively affecting their physical and mental health. As breath can damage the body, it can also serve as a regulator of the mind and body. This thesis points out the multiple effects when uniting controlled respiration, drumming and nature sounds. Breathing, music and nature have many things in common. These include repetition, pattern, awareness of the present moment and relaxation. They all contain a rhythm, and they offer self-regulatory skills. Music-based expressive arts therapies intervention is postulated to provide breathing techniques, united …

Art Therapy And Chronic Pain: Exploring Pain Tolerance, Body Sensations And Emotions, India Brown

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Over four weeks, topics of emotion, physical and body sensation, and chronic pain using art therapy were explored. The therapy provided a foundation for practicing mindfulness, increasing awareness, and expressing various symptoms such as somatic discomfort and emotional dysregulation. I co-facilitated a group consisting of individuals between the ages of 23 and 70 identifying as male or female, with a mix of white and black clients from the middle-class bracket. The group participated in art therapy and mindful meditation sessions in an outpatient program. Through this experience, I discovered that many individuals dissociate from their pain and emotional well-being. While …

Examining The Effects Of Religion-Based Meditation On Stress Levels In Palestinian Muslims, Dana Elqaq

Honors Thesis

Given the intractable conflict in Palestine, those living in the area are exposed to constant stress and trauma. A wealth of prior research findings clearly reveals that stress, with an emphasis on traumatic stress, leads to decrements in mental and physical well-being. Thus, it is important to consider implementing interventions that might help people in this area cope with stress. Researchers have advocated for the use of meditation to lower stress and anxiety levels. In the current investigation, I will present findings from a study that I conducted in Palestine, looking at the impact of mindfulness meditation on effective coping …

La Pausa Sagrada: Embodiment Of Relational-Cultural Mindfulness- Development Of A Method, Annalise Reinhardt Kohlberger

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper addresses the history, theory, and practices in relational-cultural therapy (RCT), mindfulness, and phototherapy, the theoretical and philosophical foundations upon which I developed a method integrating related practices and approaches. The method combined relational cultural mindfulness, mindful photography, and phototherapy for promoting stress reduction and well-being in Mexican mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Research shows that parents of children with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience even greater amounts of parental stress, due to the child behavior problems presented in children with ASD and the holistic impact they have on family life (Torbet et al., 2019). …

The Potential Of Using Dance/Movement Therapy In Treating Depression In The Adult Population In Thailand: A Literature Review, Vararom Tavivoradilok

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Depression is becoming increasingly prevalent in Thailand, and while many depressive symptoms manifest through the physical body, there are few treatments for depression in Thailand that involve the physical body. Previous research suggests that Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) can effectively treat depression by incorporating the physical body and individuals’ embodied feelings into the treatment process. This literature review aims to explore the potential of incorporating DMT into the treatment for depression in the adult population in Thailand, by reviewing literature about DMT practice for depression and existing treatments for depression in Thailand. The findings suggest that while physical body incorporation …

Mindfulness-Based Gratitude: Curriculum Guide For An Online Six-Week Course, Anne Marie Pfeiffer

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This is a two-part paper. The first part of the paper presents research on how both mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and gratitude interventions (GIs) offer a promising way to help mitigate the physiological and psychological effects caused by chronic stress by increasing one’s overall sense of well-being (Keng et al., 2011; Wood et al., 2010). Individually, mindfulness and gratitude practices may enhance positive effect and well-being, which suggest that combining both practices may further increase positive outcomes (Hicks et al., 2017) due to their complementary nature. However, research should be approached with caution as there are many methodological limitations that need …

Exploring The Process Of Mindful Breathing With Stressed Mothers, Caleb D. Farley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mindfulness exists in many parenting and family interventions and are intended to decrease stress, improve familial relationships, and indirectly improve child wellness, and these mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are relatively effective at doing so. However, critical issues remain related to designing effective and useful interventions for school-based and other community practitioners. Specifically, research has not demonstrated clear relationships between parent mindfulness practice increasing generalized mindfulness behaviors (i.e., awareness and acceptance), experiencing subsequent parental stress reduction, and reporting decreased behavior problems in children. The current study examined these relationships between practicing mindfulness and experiencing changes in parents’ mindfulness process, wellbeing, and perceptions …

Does A Single Night Of Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep And Stress In Female College Students?, Koushik Thudi

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Several recent studies have shown that mindfulness-based practices have been effective in treating sleep problems. However, these studies have primarily looked at multi-component interventions that take place over several weeks or months. No studies have evaluated the efficacy of short-term mindfulness-based practices on sleep the same night. This study aims to do just that. The sample consisted of 10 students attending the University of Arkansas. All participants slept in a sleep laboratory on two consecutive weekday nights. During one night, they completed a mindfulness-based exercise. The other night, they completed a similar control task (counterbalanced). Polysomnography-based sleep data were collected …

Development And Initial Validation Of The Mindful Self-Regulated Learning Scale (M-Srls), Sarah Wolff

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Modern mindfulness is a catch-all term. Just exactly what it looks like within the context of education and how it is taught vastly varies. As such, program fidelity and integrity is questioned. Here a definition of mindful self-regulated learning is proposed and the Mindful Self-Regulated Learning Scale (m-SRLS) is developed. This includes item generation and development, systematic testing of item performance, scale dimensionality, convergent and divergent validity, measurement invariance across groups and subgroups, and scale reliability over a series of five pilot studies and five primary studies using independent samples. The resulting m-SRLS is a context specific measurement tool that …

A Systematic Review Of Studies Of Self-Compassion Interventions For Trauma And Stress-Related Disorders, Kayla Wilkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to explore how the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions can reduce symptoms of trauma and stress-related disorders. Self-compassion can be an essential part of treatment for trauma and stress-related disorders. Self-compassion consists of three components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-compassion also relies on an individual to use emotional intelligence (e.g., emotional processing theory, meaning-making theory, polyvagal theory) to aid with increasing the level of self-awareness and appraising traumatic memories. For example, identifying post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms using self-compassion can promote emotional regulation, enabling awareness and acceptance of negative emotions caused by trauma. In addition, self-compassion can help …

Online Self-Compassion Training Vs. Expressive Writing: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Lauren Benyo Linford

Theses and Dissertations

Self-compassion is associated with a variety of positive outcomes including well-being and positive body image. There is a need for accessible online self-compassion resources that can be disseminated to the general public. This study examined the efficacy of The Gift of Self-Compassion course (GSC): a 30-day internet-delivered self-compassion training within a non-clinical general population sample. Outcomes examined were self-compassion, well-being, and body dissatisfaction. Using a randomized controlled design, this study compared the GSC to an expressive writing (EW) curriculum. Participants were 215 adults from the general population. Seemingly unrelated regression models were used to estimate treatment differences between groups as …

Maximising Effectiveness Of Talent Pools Through Mindfulness: An Empirical Investigation In A Multinational Corporation, Tarmo Raudsepp

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Traditional human resource management is looking to identify and develop talent for maximising human capital in a competitive environment with limited resources and negative demographic trends. Attracting, deploying, motivating, developing and retaining talented employees is a corporate norm for meeting organisational goals. Proper human resource processes through rigorous mapping of employees according to the performance-potential matrix allow the grading of employees against peer groups to establish talent pools for development and internal succession planning.

Mindfulness originates from 2,500-year-old Buddhist spiritual practices and has a rare combination of spirituality and science. Eastern perspective originates from Asian traditions focusing on the self-regulation …

Mindful Artmaking In Elementary Classrooms: A Path To Emotional Regulation, Christine Gober

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Abstract

In an era dominated by technological advancements and mounting external pressures, the emotional and mental well-being of the younger generation is a growing concern. This research paper explores the intricate relationship between mindfulness, art-making, and emotional regulation within the context of elementary classrooms. The modern world, filled with a plethora of stimuli, has escalated stress levels among individuals, especially children, leading to a surge in mental health issues. Mindfulness, deeply rooted in ancient traditions, teaches individuals to stay present, fostering a non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and emotions. Art-making, on the other hand, serves as a medium for emotional …

Understanding Grief Through The Eyes Of A Child (Ages 3-12): Mindfulness And Other Mindful Modalities As Supportive Tools, Clare Duplace

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This study demonstrates how mindfulness and other mindful modalities can be supportive tools for children experiencing grief and loss. The literature reflects the importance of understanding the ways in which children grieve at varying ages and developmental stages, facilitating grief and death-related conversations, the connection between mindfulness and grief and the use of mindfulness-based interventions within the realms of grief and death. This thesis is supported through findings from peer-reviewed articles, books, podcasts, activities, and meditations. The creative project aims to reflect that grief and loss-related experiences can be openly talked about and supported through appropriate resources and mindful modalities …

A Mindfulness-Based Intervention For Educators: Cultivating Self-Awareness And Self-Compassion To Increase Well-Being And Mitigate Burnout, Emily Squyres

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Mindfulness-based interventions that include an element of self-compassion training are beneficial in mitigating burnout and increasing educator well-being when implemented in the educational workplace. The recent and continuing interaction with the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of actively cultivating collective mental health. Schools can no longer take a passive stance when it comes to bolstering resilience regarding mental health and well-being of their educators. The impact of negative stressors precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other recent cultural and occupational phenomena, have taken a toll on mental resilience. To support educators, mindfulness interventions may be offered as a …

Childhood Learning Through Mindful Sensory Experiences In Nature: Attentive Earth And Body– A Five-Lesson Educator’S Guide, April Andrescavage

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The benefits of spending time outside in nature are well documented for children. However, due to both micro and macro systems level causes, children are spending less time in nature than they have in the past. Children spend a large amount of time in school, which makes it the perfect setting to incorporate more time outside into their day. This paper begins with a review of current and historical literature around the themes of childhood experiential learning, nature exposure, and mindfulness experiences that focus on sensory learning. This research has informed the development of the creative project titled Attentive Earth …

How A Mindfulness-Based Professional Development Program Supports More Ethical And Equitable Philanthropy, Tref Borden

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Philanthropy serves a vital role in the United States, bringing resources and support to a vibrant field of nonprofit organizations serving community needs. Despite its noble goals to better humankind, philanthropy often does harm through its grantmaking practices, perpetuating hierarchical power structures and inequity, and exacerbating the wealth and income gap that increasingly divides the country. This paper examines the structural, systemic aspects of philanthropy that foster potentially harmful practices and highlights ethical challenges in the field, and then demonstrates how mindfulness offers a means of countering those challenges to support a more ethical, equitable, and effective sector. A mindfulness-based …

Seeing And Unlearning Whiteness: A Mindfulness Workshop For Racial Justice, Emily Haranas

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Racism is a deeply embedded, foundational aspect of American society. However, because the privilege of Whiteness insulates White individuals from the workings of systemic injustice and oppression and enables them to choose the conditions of their accountability in the movement for racial justice, many remain painfully blind to this fact. As such, there is a significant need for those who have been racialized White to develop a critical awareness of the powers and privileges ascribed to their racial identity. The working premise of this thesis is that mindfulness can assist White individuals in unlinking the socialized habits of mind that …