Research Report: Benefits of a Six Week Mindfulness Course

This report investigates the impact of a six-week mindfulness course on sub-clinical adult groups. The research aims to analyze changes in participants' psychological well-being, focusing on stress reduction, emotional regulation, and overall mental health. The study explores the basic understanding of mindfulness, the need for mindfulness courses, and the benefits of such courses. It also examines psychological factors managed by mindfulness and the range of exercises used. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative data collection. Data analysis involves statistical analysis of pre- and post-course assessments, alongside thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews or questionnaires. The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, and recommendations are provided for future research and the implementation of mindfulness programs. The report also provides a detailed literature review exploring the understanding of mindfulness and its benefits.

MINDFULNESS

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Research overview..................................................................................................................1
Background of the research....................................................................................................1
Aim of the research................................................................................................................2
Research objectives................................................................................................................2
Research questions.................................................................................................................2
Rationale of the research........................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................3
The basic understanding about mindfulness...........................................................................3
The need of mindfulness course among people for improving their health...........................4
The benefits of 6 week mindfulness course among people....................................................5
The ways to evaluate the psychological factors that can be managed by mindfulness..........7
The range of exercises used in course of mindfulness for improving health condition among
people.....................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 3: Research Methodology...................................................................................................8
Types of investigation............................................................................................................8
Research design......................................................................................................................9
Research approach..................................................................................................................9
Research philosophy...............................................................................................................9
Methods of data collection...................................................................................................10
Data analysis.........................................................................................................................10
Sampling method..................................................................................................................10
Ethical considerations...........................................................................................................11
Chapter 4: Data analysis................................................................................................................11
Chapter 5: Discussion....................................................................................................................11
Chapter 6: Conclusion and recommendations...............................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

Chapter 1: Introduction
Research overview
Mindfulness refers to basic human capability to remain completely present and conduct different
activities confidently. It includes effective mental condition of an individual in order to make
decisions for their regular lives. Basically, it is necessary for people to focus on mindfulness
among people for improving their psychological condition. It consist the criterion of individuals
to remain reactive and remain actively present wherever present physically in effective manner.
It has been analysed that mindfulness can be considered as a quality of human being which they
already have naturally (Segal and Teasdale, 2018). However, it is observed that mindfulness is
innate and it can be developed with the help of using proven techniques specially seated,
walking, standing as well as moving meditation. It involves the criterion of using practice of
meditation along with others activities including yoga as well as sports respectively. It is known
as an effective practice which can be used to improve condition of mentally ill person who were
suffering from anxiety, stress, depression etc. Moreover, the use of meditation is mainly
considered in terms of mindfulness course among people for improving their health condition.
Background of the research
In context of this study, it is based on the topic of mindfulness which is helpful to improve
mental health condition of an individual. It is an important practice that can utilised for
maintaining psychological state of a person. Meanwhile, it is necessary for clinical professionals
to use mindfulness in order to make an individual wellbeing. It is required for care practitioners
to consider the practice of mindfulness which is favourable for betterment of mental health
condition. However, the appropriate care plan should include mindfulness for mental patients
that are suitable to facilitate fast recovery of them. It is important for using various mental health
practices for making patients feel relieved (Stahl and Goldstein, 2019). Moreover, the
mindfulness can be considered as an effective method for improving the condition of people with
psychological problems. This project will focus on basic knowledge related to mindfulness and
requirements of the same among individual for betterment of health condition. It will also
include the benefits of mindfulness course of 6 weeks among people and various psychological
factors which can be managed with the help of mindfulness. The different kinds of exercises that
1

are utilised in course of mindfulness in order to boost up health condition among people are
given below.
Aim of the research
“To analyse the impact of 6 weeks course of mindfulness among people.”
Research objectives
 To identify the basic understanding about mindfulness.
 To examine the need of mindfulness course among people for improving their health.
 To analyse the benefits of 6 week mindfulness course among people.
 To evaluate the psychological factors that can be managed by mindfulness.
 To determine the range of exercises used in course of mindfulness for improving health
condition among people.
Research questions
 How to identify the basic understanding about mindfulness?
 What is the need of mindfulness course among people for improving their health?
 How to analyse the benefits of 6 week mindfulness course among people?
 What are the ways to evaluate the psychological factors that can be managed by
mindfulness?
 How to determine the range of exercises used in course of mindfulness for improving
health condition among people?
Rationale of the research
This investigation has rationale to gather sufficient information about the course of mindfulness
which is favourable to improve the condition of people with psychological problems. It includes
to review all the facts and figures related to the course of mindfulness for betterment of mental
health condition, the study about mindfulness is important to gain evidences for having proven to
use the same for wellbeing of patients (Hanh, 2016). However, this study is helpful to make sure
boat efficiency of mindfulness practices so that psychological patients can be treatment in
effective manner. It will provide support to enhance rate of recovery among individuals with
mental health condition.
2

Chapter 2: Literature Review
The basic understanding about mindfulness
As per views given by Garland and et. al. (2019), mindfulness can be explained as an ability of
person to remain actively involved and present in specific moment whatever going on at
particular time. It is all about the skill of remaining free from any kind of distraction along with
being focussed in specific activity carrying out actively. Basically, it has been analysed that
mindfulness is known as an effective clinical practice that is favourable to improve the condition
of people suffering from mental health problems. It is beneficial for improving the psychological
condition in respect of enhancing their recovery rate. It is required to formulate an effective as
well as efficient program of providing mindfulness which is favourable to increasing the mental
health condition. Meanwhile, it is observed that mindfulness can be considered as a basic skill of
a person to remain active and perform reactive in specific situation accordingly. It is essential to
use the course of mindfulness in treatment plan of mental health problems because it has positive
impact on patient’s outcomes. The mindfulness can be known as an effective quality of every
human being which is already present in them to learn something new along with gaining access
to specific desired aspect. It is a potential process including several activities such as seated,
walking, standing and moving. However, it has been evaluated that mindfulness has an effective
practice of meditation which impact positively mental state of an individual by achieving
calmness and peace that is favourable for maintaining overall betterment of them.
On the other hand, it has been identified that mindfulness is helpful to adopt the use of
meditation in order to make patient stable from severe psychological condition. According to the
opinion of Purser, Forbes and Burke (2016), it is helpful to make an effective as well as efficient
care plan by including mindfulness course in terms of improving mental health condition.
However, it includes the benefits of mindfulness like reducing stress, enhance performance, gain
insight and awareness through observing own mind and improve attention for wellness of other
people. It is favourable for improving the process of mindfulness which impact positively on
psychological condition of people. It is observed that mindfulness is not an obscure or exotic as
it is responsible to remain familiar along with acquiring many shapes according the situation and
names as well. Meanwhile, it includes the fact that mindfulness is not considered as a special
added thing that has done by individual because people has capability to change the same as per
circumstances to gain desired benefits. It consist that it is not necessary to make changes as the
3

practice of mindful is able to recognised as well as cultivates the best options which is suitable
for welfare of human beings. Moreover, it has been examined that the process of mindfulness is
much effective due to having potential to become transformative social phenomenon. It is so
because this practice is responsible for cultivating the universal human qualities as well as does
not require anyone for modifying their beliefs to the better one that facilities to improve the
condition respectively.
In addition to this, it is observed that mindfulness can be considered as a kind of method that is a
way of living because it is more than just a practice. As mentioned by Rau and Williams, (2016),
it is favourable to increase awareness and encourage skill to do everything very carefully which
can reduce stress level as well as make a little thing improve to make lives better. Meanwhile,
the mindfulness is known as an evidence based practice because science and experience has
demonstrates the positive benefits of mindfulness on happiness, work, health as well as
relationships. It involves the quality of mindfulness related to sparks innovation which is helpful
to deal with complex aspects of specific situation that leads to effective, resilient, low cost
responses for seemingly intransigent issues accordingly. Overall, the mindfulness is known as
potential clinical practice which will provide support to improve the condition of patients with
psychological problems in proper manner.
The need of mindfulness course among people for improving their health
Mindfulness course is known as much effective for people suffering of psychological issues like
stress, depression, anxiety and so on. Treleaven (2018) states that it includes the criterion that
practice of mindfulness is helpful for increasing capability of an individual in order to regulate
their emotions, reduce stress level, anxiety and depression. Basically, it is observed that some of
people have acquired severe depression due to which long term consequences may occur with
them. It is essential to use mindfulness which facilitates to enhance focus of an individual along
with observing respective thoughts as well as feelings without any kind of judgement. However,
it is observed that mindfulness is needed for improving several psychological conditions such as
depression, stress, trauma and many more for avoiding severe conditions. This clinical practice
required due to its three components like intention, attention and attitude which helps to improve
the mental health condition. Initially, the intention is that aspect which a person hope to get from
practising mindfulness and attention that consist the way of concentrating to inner as well as
outer experience. It involves the criterion to pay attention regarding few of attitudes including
4

curiosity, acceptance and kindness. It is required for care professionals to gain reason for using
mindfulness in terms of providing appropriate care and treatment for attaining better health
condition. However, it is important to enhance the effectiveness of care plan for delivering
better quality of care to people. This is favourable to increase the recovery rate for maintaining
stable physical as well as mental health condition of an individual
According to Van Dam and et. al. (2018), the mindfulness is needed in number of conditions
which are mentioned here. Initially, it is needed when a person feel distracted from their regular
work and routine tasks accordingly. Secondly, it is required when a person have situation to
remain confused or forgetfulness about what they are doing right now. It is required to remain
confident and aware about what an individual feeling right now. Thirdly, mindfulness is
necessary for improving various kinds of situations like to achieve focus, reduce stress, enhance
physical health, improve mental health, strengthen relationships, practicing mindfulness etc.
However, it has been analysed that mindfulness practices is suitable for increasing positive
emotion along with reducing the negative emotions & stress. It consist the practice of
mindfulness meditation enhances capability of immune systems for fighting off illness. It
includes the fact of fighting with obesity by encouraging healthier eating habits, support the
people for losing body weight along with helping individuals savour the food they do eat.
Meanwhile, it is needed to for boosting up memory skills as well as attention abilities
along with recalling the data. As per opinion provided by Lindsay and et. al. (2018), it involves
the criterion of regulating emotions with the help of reducing the emotional reactivity as well as
increasing the cognitive focus on an individual. Moreover, mindfulness practices is needed for
improving relationships among people by providing respective satisfaction to them. It is also
required in terms of fostering compassion and altruism which encourage a person to being
helpful to others by increasing neural networks activity engaged to understand specific situation
of others for solving it. Additionally, Mindfulness is required for managing condition of students
occurred due to pressure of studies like stress, anxiety and depression. Further, the mindfulness
practices plays an important role to fulfil needs developed due to presence of post-traumatic
stress disorder among people for betterment of their health.
The benefits of 6 week mindfulness course among people
The mindfulness is beneficial in terms of relieving stress, treating heart disease, lower blood
pressure, reduce chronic pain, and improve sleep along with alleviating gastrointestinal
5

difficulties. It includes the criterion of enhancing attention ability and focus on an individual in
terms of maintains better psychological condition. Basically, it consist the utilisation of various
kinds of suitable mindfulness techniques such as basic mindfulness meditation, body sensations,
sensory, emotions and urge surfing in order to make an individual wellbeing. It is observed that
there are several problems which can be managed for improving health condition in which some
of them are given here.
Mindfulness improves wellbeing: This involves the criterion of improving overall wellbeing of
an individual. As mentioned by Jensen and et. al. (2017), it includes the fact that mindfulness is
an important aspect which provides support to several attitudes accountable for putting
contribution in order to satisfy the life. However, it consist that developing quality of
mindfulness is much effective as well as efficient to make easier for savour the pleasures
happened in lives. It is also facilitate to enhance complete involvement of an individual in
activities along with generating ability to manage with several adverse events that may occur in
life. Meanwhile, it is helpful to reduce the chance of caught by various kinds of worries related
to future or regrets about past if a person focus on practising mindfulness. Moreover, it will
facilitate to remain less preoccupied regarding success, self-esteem and better able for formulate
deep links with other people.
Mindfulness improves physical health: This can be defined as an effective method which is
favourable in maintaining appropriate physical health state. Brockman and et. al. (2017) states
that it includes the quality of mindfulness of having greater ability for improving the physical
health with the help of several ways. However, it is observed that mindfulness is helpful to
enhance the energy level and maintaining activeness in human body that facilitate to maintain
health condition. However, it has been analysed that mindfulness has potential to make person
feel relived in context of various health problems like relieving from stress, treat heart disease,
lower blood pressure, and decreasing chronic pain, improve sleep and alleviate the issues related
to stomach. Moreover, it is necessary for people to focus on practising mindfulness which will
provide support to gain relief from several health problems as well as maintaining better physical
health condition respectively.
Mindfulness improves mental health: Considering the benefits of mindfulness, it has been
analysed that mindfulness practice has an important practice which is used by care professionals
for making mental patient stable. It includes that psychotherapist are in favour to utilised
6

mindfulness which is known as an important activity to be considered to make entire treatment
plan more effective. However, it is beneficial to support in recovery from number of
psychological problems such as substance abuse, eating disorders, and conflicts between couples,
anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders and depression. It will facilitate to maintain
stable mental state of patient which is favourable to conduct basic treatment effectively in terms
of gaining better patient outcomes accordingly.
The ways to evaluate the psychological factors that can be managed by mindfulness
The psychological factors are the aspects related to mental state of an individual that can be
managed with the help of using practice of mindfulness. According to the Pascoe and et. al.
(2017), it includes the various kinds of psychological factors which can be easily managed by
using mindfulness practices in clinical settings. Basically, it includes number of mental health
problems that are treated by making their mindfulness ability strong. It is necessary for care
professionals to diagnose actual psychological issues happened with an individual in terms of
improving their health condition. Some of these psychological factors are given below.
Reduced rumination: The rumination can be defined as a deep thought about something which is
responsible for developing an abnormal health condition. It includes the use of mindfulness in
order to reduce the condition of rumination which facilitates to enhance the health state of an
individual respectively. However, it is favourable for people facing rumination to improve their
psychological state by using mindfulness as it is helpful reduce its negative impact on mental
health state of an individual. Moreover, the meditation technique can be used in mindfulness for
overcoming with psychological factors for maintaining better health status.
Reduction of stress: This includes the condition that several life issues are responsible to develop
stressed condition and it can be said that every third person has a problem of stress. As
mentioned by Baker, Krieger and LeRoy (2016), it is necessary for people to improve health
condition of people by overcoming with stress and that is possible with the help of mindfulness
practice. Meanwhile, it involves the utilisation of mindfulness based cognitive therapy which
will provide support to make an individual disease free. It includes the fact that limited stress
may acquire complicated situation which is required to avoided for better health by using
mindfulness practice.
Boost up working memory: The minor memory problems can occur while a person working in
work pressure regularly and remain busy every time which is required to be improved with the
7

help using appropriate therapy or clinical practices. It is possible that these minor memory
problems may acquire major complicated problem then it can be cope up with the help of using
mindfulness practice. However, it is necessary for an individual to prefer mindfulness in order to
improve the health condition of an individual. It is beneficial to improve memory skill of a
people in proper manner.
The range of exercises used in course of mindfulness for improving health condition among
people
The range of exercise related to mindfulness is decided by diagnosing actual psychological
condition of an individual. Bamber and Schneider (2016) states that it includes number of
activities like basic mindful meditation, body sensations, sensory, emotions and urge sufferings.
Initially, the basic mindfulness meditation includes the way of quietly focus on own natural
breathing or on specific word by repeating the same in silent manner. It includes the criterion of
allowing thoughts to come and go without any kind of judgement by letting them pass along with
return the focus on breathing or word. Secondly, the activity of body sensations includes to
notice the subtle sensations including itching or tingling but let them pass without any
judgement. It includes the notice that whole body is at succession from head to toe. Thirdly, it
involves the another method of sensory in which it is required for an individual to put efforts for
noticing the sounds, smells, tastes, touches and sign but let them go with any concern from them.
However, the other activity is about emotions in which a person should permit overall emotions
to let go which is helpful to remain relaxed as well as steady. It includes the way of accepting the
emotions without any judgment and let them go. It consist the final activity of urge suffering
which is much effective as well as efficient to make person overcome with cravings and permit
them to pass easily. Moreover, this process is favourable to cope with cravings and urge by
controlling on urges which helps to maintain appropriate health condition of an individual.
In addition to this, there are various kinds of exercises which facilitate to gain better outcomes. It
includes the criterion of practicing mindfulness with settle down with cross legged on the
cushion or floor with straight back position in comfortable manner. Basically, it involves the way
of listening to own breathe and concentrate properly. It consists to know the thoughts come and
let them come and go without any concerns to them for remaining calm effectively. Meanwhile,
it is observed that observation is a kind of exercise of mindfulness in which it is required to
select an object with the help of focussing the gaze through describing the object accordingly. It
8

involves the way of carrying out body inventory that can start with a comfortable position which
is begin from the bottom up by visualising a warm with white glow along with exploring the
sensations. However, it includes the mindfulness exercise of deep breathing to find out stillness
and rest the lips together by inhaling fully & slowly through the nostrils. It consist the criterion
of exhaling the completely and slowly by nostrils. Moreover, it involves the method of self-
awareness through others and deliberates the posture which is helpful to gain psychological
peace which improves health condition of an individual. It includes the very important and easy
mindfulness practice of self-care which has a significant role to maintain comfortable and
healthy state of people. It consist the practices of gratitude and meditation which is favourable to
improve mental as well as physical health condition. The meditation includes the criterion of
finding a comfortable seat, set a timer, begin breathing deeply along with utilising the specific
word or religious phrase of worship to concentrate on the same.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Types of investigation
The kinds of investigation methods can be divided into two categories such as qualitative and
quantitative method of research from which suitable one can be used for conducting
investigation in proper manner (McConville, McAleer and Hahne, 2017). In respect of this
project, it will focus on qualitative method of research to carrying out study on mindfulness
which will provide support to attain accurate outcomes. It is beneficial in order to gain detailed
information related to the course of mindfulness including its benefits for people. However, it
includes the effective method for gathering data of mindfulness and its impact on health
condition of people.
Research design
The research design can be defined as an effective strategy selected for carrying out investigation
by integrating various components. It can be divided into number of sections such as descriptive,
exploratory and experimental research design from which suitable one technique should be used
in specific study (Klingbeil and et. al., 2017). This project will go to consider use of descriptive
research design to conduct research on benefits of mindfulness to gain accurate outcomes. It is an
effective as well efficient method in order to more detailed information about the research topic
9

which facilitates to gain accurate findings. Moreover, it is beneficial to analyse deep information
about mindfulness course and their respect effect son psychological patients for their wellness.
Research approach
Research approach can be defined as plan and process including desired steps formulated from
the broad assumptions for detailed methods. It can be divided into two categories like inductive
and deductive approach from which suitable one can be selected to sue according to specific
investigation (Jamieson and Tuckey, 2017). This project will go to use inductive research
approach which is a method begin with the help of observations and theories in order to propose
towards the end of research procedures. It is favourable to develop the flexibility for attending
the close context subjects which facilitate to create new and appropriate theory related to the
specific research problem.
Research philosophy
Research philosophy refers to a kind of belief regarding the appropriate way through which
specific phenomenon can be collected, analysed and used in the study. It includes the criterion of
formulating specified philosophy about particular research project. However, it has been
analysed the effective research philosophy method should be selected according to topic of study
on effects of mindfulness course among people (Berry and et. al., 2018). The research
philosophy can be divided in two sections such as positivism and interpretivism from which
appropriate method can be used for carrying out investigation in proper manner. This project will
focus on interpretivism which has criterion of integration interests of humans along with
integrating the same for the conducting study effectively. It will provide support to analyse the
collected information appropriately which will facilitate to attain accurate outcomes of research
that can be used for future perspectives for welfare of people.
Methods of data collection
The data collection method includes primary and secondary method in which suitable one can be
selected to use for gathering relevant data to gain appropriate findings. It includes the primary
sources like interview, questionnaire, survey and focus group that can be used to gather data
which is known as first hand which was never used previously. However, the secondary sources
of data collection including books, journals, magazines, websites, newspapers and many more
(Petchsawang and McLean, 2017). It is known as second hand data which can be used previously
10