Can a leopard change its spots? An investigation of mindfulness in relation to brain plasticity. (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, Joey; Taylor, Rachel
• Is Part Of: Person-centered & experiential psychotherapies. Volume 15:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Mindfulness -- Mindfulness-based mind training -- general anxiety -- self esteem; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Experiential psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Client-centered psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.8914
• DOI: 10.1080/14779757.2016.1183512
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9757

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Mindfulness is an adaptable state of consciousness that has been shown to be effective in the reduction of maladaptive cognitive schemas as well as in raising feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. Cultivating a mindfulness habit is seen to be fortuitous; however the research in this paper looked at the efficacy of a short intervention on improving the cognitive domains of self-esteem, mindful attention awareness, and general anxiety disorder. The study was conducted within a university setting with both students and support staff. An introduction to mindfulness was facilitated over a 90-minute session. Measures were completed by all participants pre- and post-intervention. The results show that there was a significant effect of a mindfulness session on the self-reporting of self-esteem, mindful attention awareness and general anxiety disorder.