Cited by 139Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsCultural Competency in Health CarePsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Using Mindfulness- and Acceptance-Based Treatments With Clients From Nondominant Cultural and/or Marginalized Backgrounds: Clinical Considerations, Meta-Analysis Findings, and Introduction to the Special Series

Open access
Fuchs, Cara, Lee, Jonathan K., Roemer, Lizabeth, Orsillo, Susan M.·2013·Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that mindfulness- and acceptance-based principles can increase efforts aimed at reducing human suffering and increasing quality of life. A critical step in the development and evaluation of these new approaches to treatment is to determine the acceptability and efficacy of these treatments for clients from nondominant cultural and/or marginalized backgrounds. This special series brings together the wisdom of clinicians and researchers who are currently engaged in clinical practice and treatment research with populations who are historically underrepresented in the treatment literature. As an introduction to the series, this paper presents a theoretical background and research context for the papers in the series, highlights the elements of mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments that may be congruent with culturally responsive treatment, and briefly outlines the general principles of cultural competence and responsive treatment. Additionally, the results of a meta-analysis of mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments with clients from nondominant cultural and/or marginalized backgrounds are presented. Our search yielded 32 studies totaling 2,198 clients. Results suggest small (Hedges' g=.38, 95% CI=.11 − .64) to large (Hedges' g=1.32, 95% CI=.61 − 2.02) effect sizes for mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments, which varied by study design.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.12.004

Cites

92 of 93 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 18 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The effect sizes varied by study design.

    “which varied by study design.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The meta-analysis found effect sizes for mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments ranging from small (Hedges' g=.38, 95% CI=.11 − .64) to large (Hedges' g=1.32, 95% CI=.61 − 2.02).

    “Results suggest small (Hedges' g=.38, 95% CI=.11 − .64) to large (Hedges' g=1.32, 95% CI=.61 − 2.02) effect sizes for mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments, which varied by study design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Studies using an active treatment (k=9) had an average effect size of g=.67.

    “followed by studies that used an active treatment (k=9, g=.67)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Studies using a pre-post design (k=11) had an average effect size of g=.57.

    “and studies using a pre-post design (k=11, g=.57)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The meta-analysis found effect sizes ranging from small to large, with Hedges' g between .38 and 1.32.

    “The results showed small to large effect sizes (Hedges' g range=.38 to 1.32; where .2 is a small effect, .5 is a medium effect, and .8 is a large effect).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 8
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 9
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The meta-analysis search identified 32 studies with 2,198 participants.

    “Our search yielded 32 studies totaling 2,198 clients.”
    • Also stated in: § Method · plain
      “This resulted in 32 studies that were retained for analysis, and included 2,198 participants (see Table 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Clinical psychology has drawn criticism for neglecting clients' multicultural and community contexts and concentrating too much on the isolated individual.

    “Clinical psychology has generally been criticized for deemphasizing the importance of viewing individuals within their multicultural and community contexts, instead focusing too narrowly on the individual in isolation (Nagayama Hall, 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Nagayama Hall, 2005 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Language conveys cultural information and is tied to how emotions are expressed and experienced.

    “Language not only provides important information about a person's culture, but it also relates to the expression and experience of emotions (Barona & Santos de Barona, 2003).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Barona & Santos de Barona, 2003

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The dialectical stance in some acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments may appeal to clients who see systemic oppression and discrimination as leaving them little control over their environment.

    “may resonate with clients who feel that they lack control over their environment due to systemic oppression and discrimination.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Combining validation and change in ABBTs may lessen the power imbalance typical of psychotherapy and support a collaborative alliance.

    “This unique combination of validation and change also has the potential to minimize the power dynamic inherent in traditional psychotherapeutic communication and facilitate a collaborative therapeutic alliance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Clients from marginalized backgrounds who doubt therapy's effectiveness may feel misunderstood or ignored if their broader life context is neglected, which can lead them to drop out early.

    “Clients, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds who may come to therapy with some skepticism about its effectiveness (S. Sue, 2006), may feel misunderstood or unheard when the full context of their life is not attended to, resulting in early termination of therapy (Comas-Diaz, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites S. Sue, 2006 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Comas-Diaz, 2006 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Research indicates that older adults need more education about therapy than younger adults, often because therapy's purpose and function are less familiar to them.

    “Older adults, in particular, have been found to require more psychoeducation about the process of therapy than younger adults, as they are often less familiar with the purpose and function of therapy (Edelstein, Northrop, & MacDonald, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Edelstein, Northrop, & MacDonald, 2009

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cohen's d is slightly biased and tends to inflate effect sizes, especially when samples are small.

    “Although in most cases the difference between Cohen's d and Hedges' g is negligible, Cohen's d has been shown to have a slight bias and to overestimate the size of the effect, particularly in situations where the sample size is small (Borenstein, Hedges, Higgins, & Rothstein, 2009).”
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    • cites Borenstein, Hedges, Higgins, & Rothstein, 2009

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A selective and directive approach to adapting evidence-based treatments for particular communities is appropriate, where adaptations are indicated when a clinical problem occurs in the context of sociocultural factors and standard treatment does not address contextually specific risk factors.

    “Lau (2006) suggests a selective and directive approach to the adaptation of evidence-based treatments for particular communities.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lau (2006) source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    A random effects model, chosen according to study design, produced the summary effect.

    “The summary effect was then calculated using a random effects model based on study design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Taking a client-centered approach inherently supports culturally responsive mental health care.

    “Client-centered approaches to treatment naturally facilitate culturally responsive mental health treatment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Pre-post effect sizes were computed with a global r=.7 correction applied to outcome measures.

    “In calculating pre-to posttreatment effect sizes we used a global correction of r=.7 (Rosenthal, 1991) applied to study outcome measures.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rosenthal, 1991

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The selective and directive approach relies on data to inform adaptations and discourages unnecessary adaptations that threaten treatment fidelity.

    “The approach is directive in that it relies on data to inform the adaptations. This approach discourages unnecessary adaptations that threaten the fidelity of the evidence-based treatment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lau (2006) source

      Not checked in the free run.

13 of 13
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The generalizability of findings on acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments is limited because study samples are not demographically representative of the U.S. population.

    “Despite growing evidence for the efficacy of acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments across a range of disorders, the generalizability of these findings is limited by samples that do not represent the full demography of the U.S. population.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Research on whether these treatments are relevant and acceptable for people from nondominant, traditionally underserved backgrounds is at an early stage.

    “In particular, research on the relevance to and acceptability of these treatments with individuals from nondominant, traditionally underserved backgrounds is in its infancy.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No prior meta-analysis had systematically examined how useful acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments may be for clients from diverse backgrounds.

    “To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analytic investigation that systematically explores the potential utility of acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments with clients from diverse backgrounds.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • In a meta-analysis whose primary aim was to examine mindfulness meditation's effectiveness among underserved populations, less than 30% of included studies had people of color samples.

    “even in a meta-analysis where the primary aim was to examine mindfulness meditation’s effectiveness among underserved populations, less than 30% of studies included had POC samples [30].”

    From App-Based Mindfulness Meditation for People of Color Who Experience Race-Related Stress: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (2022) · cites this paper as [30]

    The Meta-Analysis and Method sections confirm that the paper reviewed treatments for underserved populations and retained 32 studies. But the review covered both mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments, not mindfulness meditation alone. Our copy does not give the proportion of included studies with people-of-color samples, so it does not substantiate the less-than-30% figure. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Evidence-based treatment (mindfulness meditation) continues to be understudied among POC in both traditional and digital formats.

    “Despite extensive evidence showing the negative mental health effects of race-related stress in POC [6-11,14-17] and the promise of mindfulness meditation to help these individuals cope [20-24,26,30-32,79], this evidence-based treatment continues to be understudied among this high-risk population in both traditional [30,35,36] and digital formats [46-48].”

    From App-Based Mindfulness Meditation for People of Color Who Experience Race-Related Stress: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (2022) · cites this paper as [30]

    The Abstract says research on mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments with traditionally underserved groups is in its infancy. The Method includes non-White participants and excludes treatments not conducted in person, supporting the traditional-format portion attributed to this source. The paper discusses a broader class of treatments, however, rather than establishing the claim specifically for mindfulness meditation; the digital-format portion has separate citations. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mindfulness meditation has promise to help POC cope with race-related stress.

    “Despite extensive evidence showing the negative mental health effects of race-related stress in POC [6-11,14-17] and the promise of mindfulness meditation to help these individuals cope [20-24,26,30-32,79], this evidence-based treatment continues to be understudied among this high-risk population in both traditional [30,35,36] and digital formats [46-48].”

    From App-Based Mindfulness Meditation for People of Color Who Experience Race-Related Stress: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (2022) · cites this paper as [30]

    In “ABBTs and Underserved Populations” (page unavailable), the paper suggests that acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments may help marginalized clients respond to distress associated with systemic oppression and discrimination. That supports the claim’s sense of promise, but the paper discusses broader treatments rather than showing that mindfulness meditation specifically helps people of color cope with race-related stress. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Person-driven and values-based frameworks allow treatment individualization and cultural adaptation, potentially improving culturally sensitive conceptualization and treatment for racial/ethnic minority individuals with anxiety and depression.

    “person-driven and values-based frameworks provides an opportunity to individualize treatment and actively address cultural considerations and important contextual challenges to improve culturally sensitive conceptualizations”
  • It has been proposed that ERT and other contemporary evidence-based interventions may work for diverse populations because they focus on values and conceptualization-based treatment.

    “it is posited that interventions such as ERT and other contemporary, evidence-based interventions (e.g., ABBT) may be effective in treating these populations due to their focus on values and conceptualization-based treatment (Fuchs, Lee, Roemer, & Orsillo, 2013; Persons, Fresco, & Ernst, in press)”

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentz = 15.32reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “z=15.32, p < .001”

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Coauthor surname differs between the overview and reference

    Minor

    The overview names the fifth author of the Dutton et al. article as Myers, while its reference entry names that author Mylers.

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Barona, A., & Santos de Barona, M. (2003). Recommendations for the psychological treatment of Latino/Hispanics populations. In Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests (Ed.), Psychological treatment of ethnic minority populations. Washington DC: Association of Black Psychologists. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/brochures/treatment-minority.pdf

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Fuchs, C., Lee, J. K., Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
  • Suffolk University (US)
Corresponding author
Fuchs, Cara
Venue
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-02
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
1-12
ISSN
1077-7229 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2318050465
Cited by
139
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
5.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cognitive and Behavioral Practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH074589)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Cultural Competency in Health Care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
mindfulness-based interventions, acceptance and commitment therapy, culturally responsive treatment, cultural competence, marginalized communities, treatment acceptability, treatment efficacy, effect size, meta-analysis

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