Cited by 111Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Interpersonal mindfulness training for well-being: A pilot study with psychology graduate students

Cohen, Jeanette Sawyer, Miller, Lisa J.·2009·Teachers College Record The Voice of Scholarship in Education

Abstract

Background/Context Although mindfulness originated in Eastern meditation traditions, notably Buddhism, researchers, clinicians, and, more recently, educators suggest that the cultivation of mindfulness may be beneficial to Westerners uninterested in adopting Buddhist or other Eastern spiritual traditions. Mindfulness is understood as sets of skills that can be developed with practice and taught independently of spiritual origins as a way of being or relating to present-moment experience. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study This pilot study adds to this literature on mindfulness training for nascent mental health professionals, who may be at risk for occupational stress and burnout. This study aims to (1) expand on preliminary research supporting the helpfulness of mindfulness interventions for graduate students in psychology and (2) investigate the feasibility and helpfulness of a novel adaptation of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) that emphasizes relational awareness. Population/Participants/Subjects This sample consisted of clinicians-in-training (N = 21) within a graduate department of counseling and clinical psychology at an urban university. All students were in their first or second year of graduate school; 20 participants were enrolled in a psychology master's program, and 1 participant was a doctoral student in clinical psychology. Intervention/Program/Practice The authors investigated a novel 6-week interpersonal mindfulness training (IMT) program modeled after the manualized MBSR intervention, with an added emphasis placed on relational awareness. IMT aims to reduce perceived stress and enhance interpersonal well-being and, as such, may be particularly well-suited for psychotherapy trainees. IMT was integrated into a semester-long graduate course in psychology. Research Design A pre-post design was used to examine outcomes associated with participation in IMT. Findings/Results Results suggest that IMT with psychology graduate students is a feasible intervention that positively affects mindfulness, perceived stress, social connectedness, emotional intelligence, and anxiety. Of special interest are changes in interpersonal well-being that suggest potential benefits for future mental health professionals. Conclusions/Recommendations High attendance rate and positive program evaluations suggest that IMT can be successfully taught within a graduate psychology curriculum. We suggest that mindfulness training may be a useful complement to the standard training of future clinicians.

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Crossref · 10.1177/016146810911101202

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Authors
Cohen, J. S., & Miller, L. J.
Affiliations
Columbia University (US)
Venue
Teachers College Record The Voice of Scholarship in Education
Published
2009-11
Volume
111
Issue
12
Pages
2760-2774
ISSN
  • 0040-0475 (ISSN-L)
  • 0161-4681
  • 1467-9620
OpenAlex
W2786343508
Cited by
111
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
FWCI
4.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Teachers College Record The Voice of Scholarship in Education (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
mindfulness-based stress reduction, relational awareness, psychology graduate students, perceived stress, relational well-being, social connectedness, emotional intelligence, anxiety, clinician training, occupational burnout

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