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Journal of Religion and Health
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 3/2014

01-06-2014 | Original Paper

Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Improved Psychological Well-being: A Qualitative Examination of Participant Experiences

Authors: Edo Shonin, William Van Gordon, Mark D. Griffiths

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions are reported as being efficacious treatments for a variety of psychological and somatic conditions. However, concerns have arisen relating to how mindfulness is operationalized in mindfulness-based interventions and whether its ‘spiritual essence’ and full potential treatment efficacy have remained intact. This qualitative study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine participant experiences regarding the acceptability and effectiveness of a newly designed secularized intervention called meditation awareness training (MAT) that follows a more traditional Buddhist approach to meditation. Participants (with issues of stress and low mood) reported experiencing improvements in psychological well-being due to receiving MAT. The wider implications are discussed.
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Metadata
Title
Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Improved Psychological Well-being: A Qualitative Examination of Participant Experiences
Authors
Edo Shonin
William Van Gordon
Mark D. Griffiths
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9679-0

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