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An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006) to examine the subjective experiences of mindfulness. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who practice mindfulness on a regular basis. Data analysis revealed domains related to the experience, conditions, strategies and consequences related to the practice

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006) to examine the subjective experiences of mindfulness. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who practice mindfulness on a regular basis. Data analysis revealed domains related to the experience, conditions, strategies and consequences related to the practice of mindfulness. The following main themes emerged: subjective experience, mechanism of practice, use of metaphors, contextual influences, and shift in perception. An emerging theoretical model related to the experience of mindfulness is also proposed. Implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
ContributorsMejia, Araceli (Author) / Kurpius, Sharon (Thesis advisor) / Arciniega, Miguel (Committee member) / Kinnier, Richard (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2013
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This study addressed the questions: What is the experience of mindfulness by yoga masters? How can such experiences inform the counseling intervention of mindfulness? In a qualitative study, individuals who held the minimum credentials E-RYT 200 (i.e., Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200 Hour) were interviewed. The verbatim interviews were analyzed

This study addressed the questions: What is the experience of mindfulness by yoga masters? How can such experiences inform the counseling intervention of mindfulness? In a qualitative study, individuals who held the minimum credentials E-RYT 200 (i.e., Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200 Hour) were interviewed. The verbatim interviews were analyzed using the phenomenological approach. Two categories of themes emerged describing mindfulness as a state of being and a practice of awareness. The common themes describing mindfulness as a state of being include: conscious awareness, feeling bliss, the present moment, interconnectedness, and compassionate evolution. The common themes describing mindfulness as a practice of awareness include: waking the body, balanced practice, the power of pranayama, refining abilities, obstacles to awareness, a holistic practice, and external supports. The results of this study suggest that mindfulness is multifaceted and ephemeral; however, with regular practice it becomes more consistently maintained. As a practice of awareness, mindfulness develops through a hierarchy of techniques moving from the external to the internal including both self and other. Discussion focuses on how these experiences can be applied in counseling interventions.
ContributorsBeyer, Gina (Author) / Kinnier, Richard (Thesis advisor) / Glidden-Tracey, Cynthia (Committee member) / Hutchinson, Joel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
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Description
College students experience a considerable amount of stress. Unmanaged stress is associated with poor academic performance, health risk behaviors (i.e., inadequate sleep and physical activity, alcohol consumption, poor dietary behaviors), and poor mental health. Coping with stress has become a priority among universities. The most tested stress-related programs to date

College students experience a considerable amount of stress. Unmanaged stress is associated with poor academic performance, health risk behaviors (i.e., inadequate sleep and physical activity, alcohol consumption, poor dietary behaviors), and poor mental health. Coping with stress has become a priority among universities. The most tested stress-related programs to date have been mindfulness-based and face-to-face. These programs demonstrated significant improvements in stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion among college students. However, they may be burdensome to students as studies report low attendance and low compliance due to class conflicts or not enough time. Few interventions have used more advanced technologies (i.e., mobile apps) as a mode of delivery. The purpose of this study is to report adherence to a consumer-based mindfulness meditation mobile application (i.e., Calm) and test its effects on stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion in college students. We will also explore what the relationship is between mindfulness and health behaviors.

College students were recruited using fliers on college campus and social media. Eligible participants were randomized to one of two groups: (1) Intervention - meditate using Calm, 10 min/day for eight weeks and (2) Control – no participation in mindfulness practices (received the Calm application after 12-weeks). Stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion and health behaviors (i.e., sleep disturbance, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption) were measured using self-report. Outcomes were measured at baseline and week eight.

Of the 109 students that enrolled in the study, 41 intervention and 47 control participants were included in analysis. Weekly meditation participation averaged 38 minutes with 54% of participants completing at least half (i.e., 30 minutes) of meditations. Significant changes between groups were found in stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion (all P<0.001) in favor of the intervention group. A significant negative association (p<.001) was found between total mindfulness and sleep disturbance.

An eight-week consumer-based mindfulness meditation mobile application (i.e., Calm) was effective in reducing stress, improving mindfulness and self-compassion among undergraduate college students. Mobile applications may be a feasible, effective, and less burdensome way to reduce stress in college students.
ContributorsGlissmann, Christine (Author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis advisor) / Sebren, Ann (Committee member) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Lee, Chong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
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Description
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the cultural, social, environmental, and gender factors that may influence physical activity (PA) in older Mexican American (MA) men living in Tucson, Arizona. The Mexican origin population is the fastest growing Hispanic subgroup in our nation, increasing from 20.6 million in

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the cultural, social, environmental, and gender factors that may influence physical activity (PA) in older Mexican American (MA) men living in Tucson, Arizona. The Mexican origin population is the fastest growing Hispanic subgroup in our nation, increasing from 20.6 million in the year 2000 to 31.8 million in 2010. Arizona has the sixth largest Hispanic population in the United States and the Mexican origin population accounts for 91% of Arizona's Hispanics. Despite the fast growing Mexican population, there are a limited number of studies that examine MAs and PA. There are even fewer interventions created to foster PA among older (≥65 years old) MA men. Fourteen individual interviews were conducted with older MA men living in Tucson, Arizona. Data was collected, organized, and analyzed according to the methodologies of Clark Moustakas and the Social Ecology Model for Health Promotion framework. Six themes emerged which reflected the older MA male's perception of health, masculinity, and physical activity: a) Retirement promotes self-care behaviors, b) Women, health care providers, and the Internet are important in promoting health, c) Aging changes physical activity, d) I take care of myself, e) Physical activity is a personal choice and lifestyle, and f) I learn and make adjustments as needed. Themes were used to create textural and structural descriptions of their experiences. Descriptions were formed into the essence of the phenomenon. The results of this study increase our understanding of health, masculinity, and physical activity in older MA men. This research will inform the development of an evidence-based PA intervention to promote cardiovascular (CV) health in older MA men that may be implemented in a variety of community-based settings.
ContributorsDowling, Evangeline M (Author) / Hooker, Steven (Thesis advisor) / Grando, Victoria (Committee member) / Der Ananian, Cheryl (Committee member) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
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Description
Cancer survivors engaged in either six-week Internet-delivered mindfulness training or a usual-care control and were compared on the following outcome battery: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Profile of Mood States, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and

Cancer survivors engaged in either six-week Internet-delivered mindfulness training or a usual-care control and were compared on the following outcome battery: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Profile of Mood States, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and intervention compliance was monitored. Mindfulness treatments were delivered at a time and on a computer of the participants’ choosing. Multivariate analysis indicated that mindfulness training produced significant benefits on all measures (p < .05). Online mindfulness instruction represents a widely-accessible, cost-effective intervention for reducing psychological distress and its behavioral manifestations in cancer survivors, especially those who are unable to participate in in-person training.
ContributorsMesser, David, Ph.D (Author) / Horan, John J (Thesis advisor) / Homer, Judith (Committee member) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
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Description
Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients suffer from fatigue and a reduced overall quality of life, both of which are not resolved with current pharmacologic therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week online-streamed yoga intervention on fatigue and QoL in MPN patients as compared to

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients suffer from fatigue and a reduced overall quality of life, both of which are not resolved with current pharmacologic therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week online-streamed yoga intervention on fatigue and QoL in MPN patients as compared to a wait-list control group as well as to determine the feasibility of remotely collecting blood and saliva samples in a national sample. MPN patients were asked to complete 60 min/week of online yoga for 12 weeks. MPN fatigue and QoL were assessed online with single-item questions taken from the MPN SAF (fatigue and QoL) and NIH PROMIS (QoL) at baseline, week 7, and week 12. The practicality of the blood and saliva measures were defined as >70% completion rate at both baseline and week 12. Fidelity of the intervention (i.e., weekly yoga participation) was assessed via both self-report (i.e., daily log) and objective measurement (i.e., Clicky). Of the 62 MPN patients that enrolled in the study, 48 completed the intervention with 27 participating in the yoga group and 21 participating in the wait-list control group. Weekly yoga participation averaged ~41 min/week as measured objectively, whereas self-report yoga participation averaged ~56 min/week. The blood draw was determined to be practical with a 92.6% completion rate at baseline and a 70.4% completion rate at week 12. There were no significant differences from baseline to week 12 in MPN SAF fatigue (ES=0.18; p=0.724) or MPN SAF QoL (ES=-0.53; p=0.19), however, NIH PROMIS QoL was significantly improved from baseline to week 12 (ES=0.7; p=0.031) when compared to the control group. This study builds upon the findings from a prior feasibility study in demonstrating the feasibility of online yoga as well as its preliminary effects of improving total symptom burden, fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in MPN patients. Given the effects of yoga demonstrated both in the feasibility study and the current pilot study, a future randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is warranted in order to further investigate the effectiveness of online yoga for MPN patient symptom burden and QoL.
ContributorsEckert, Ryan (Author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis advisor) / Mesa, Ruben (Committee member) / Gowin, Krisstina (Committee member) / Dueck, Amylou (Committee member) / Kosiorek, Heidi (Committee member) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
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Description
A mobility-impairing disability includes difficulty moving and maintaining body positions, handling, and moving objects, moving around in the environment, and difficulty with transportation. The negative impact of mobility impairments on daily life is profound and can lead to long-term negative health consequences. Mobility-impairing disabilities are associated with reduction in glucose

A mobility-impairing disability includes difficulty moving and maintaining body positions, handling, and moving objects, moving around in the environment, and difficulty with transportation. The negative impact of mobility impairments on daily life is profound and can lead to long-term negative health consequences. Mobility-impairing disabilities are associated with reduction in glucose tolerance, difficulty accessing healthy food, and physical inactivity. This dissertation investigated physical activity in people with mobility-impairing disabilities. First, Chapter 2 investigated the relationship between glucose disposal and physical activity in people with mobility-impairing disabilities. Chapter 3 explored collected survey data regarding physical access to food in a sample of 85 adults with mobility-impairing disabilities. The relationship between difficulty performing specific activities of daily living pertaining to food access and participation in muscle-strengthening activity was investigated. Chapter 4 consisted of an analysis of health-related outcomes to a 12-week self-guided Tai Chi and Qigong intervention compared to a video health information only control group. Results regarding the effects of physical activity on insulin sensitivity (Chapter 2) in people with mobility impairments were mixed. Self-reported muscle strengthening exercise frequency (Chapter 3) was negatively associated with difficulty loading or unloading groceries or other items from a car or transportation and difficulty with store check-out process. The results from Chapter 4 indicated no significant differences in handgrip strength following 12-weeks of self-guided Tai Chi and Qigong when compared to the control group. In sum, the overall results of this research indicated that physical activity is important for individuals with mobility impairments but that interventions to increase muscle strength in this group may need to be more specific or create more overload to elicit muscle-strengthening stimulus. Furthermore, the feasibility of conducting a remotely delivered exercise intervention in individuals with mobility impairments was confirmed; however, future research on a larger sample population is needed to determine the efficacy of this type of intervention on strength outcomes. Clinicians should continue to recommend regular exercise in people with mobility impairments due to the large body of research supporting its use across a variety of populations.
ContributorsSantana, Robert Scott (Author) / Lee, Rebecca E. (Thesis advisor) / Swan, Pamela D. (Thesis advisor) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Bowles, John (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
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The aim of this review is to explore the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on Registered Nurse's rate of burnout and stress. Particularly focusing on the mitigation and decrease of burnout. Burnout is a multifaceted, complex issue that has become engrained in the culture of nursing and a widespread epidemic. Burnout

The aim of this review is to explore the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on Registered Nurse's rate of burnout and stress. Particularly focusing on the mitigation and decrease of burnout. Burnout is a multifaceted, complex issue that has become engrained in the culture of nursing and a widespread epidemic. Burnout has detrimental effects for the quality of life of the nurse, patient outcomes, interprofessional collaboration, and nursing practice. A systematic literature review incorporating qualitative data and analyzing the quantitative data was conducted. Studies on the effects of mindfulness-based interventions for nurses relating to burnout published between January 2008 and May 2018 were identified through a systematic search in electronic databases: CINHAL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, and PubMed. Gray literature was searched through Scopus and clinical trials were explored through clincialtrials.gov. Data analysis was based on 8 data points that were extracted from the research. A total of 17 articles were selected for inclusion in the systematic literature review. There were several different types of studies including single group intervention study, randomized control trial interventions studies, mixed model, quasi-experimental studies with controls, and a non-randomized controlled comparison. All relied on self-reporting scales and questionnaire for quantitative pre-post intervention changes. Overall, the 10 of the 17 studies found that there was a statistically significant decrease in burnout rates and an increase in mindfulness post intervention. Several other factors improved in a number of studies such as quality of life, decreased stress, increased sense of personal accomplishment, and decreased emotional exhaustion. There were also indications of an improvement in the individual's holistic well-being (e.g. inner state of calmness, awareness and enthusiasm) relating to improved mindfulness levels in 12 of the studies. Based on the results of this systematic review, mindfulness may be considered a potentially effective intervention for decreasing nurse burnout and mitigating future burnout. This intervention could be useful in a number of contexts including on-site and off-site programs with institutional support. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes of mindfulness practice, symptom focused outcome measures, and multi-modal studies.
ContributorsGeurtz, Heidi Frances (Author) / Larkey, Linda (Thesis director) / Costello, Jennifer (Committee member) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
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Background: Unmanaged stress is a major contributing factor to the development of disease in both men and women. Middle-aged adults (40-64) have some of the highest stress of all age groups and the use of meditation may provide relief for conditions such as stress. A smartphone application (app) may hel

Background: Unmanaged stress is a major contributing factor to the development of disease in both men and women. Middle-aged adults (40-64) have some of the highest stress of all age groups and the use of meditation may provide relief for conditions such as stress. A smartphone application (app) may help limit the magnitude of the perceived challenges of meditation. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a consumer-based meditation app (i.e., Calm) to reduce stress in middle-aged adults who self-report elevated stress. The preliminary effects of Calm on stress and health outcomes related to stress were explored as well as the preliminary effects of Calm on mindfulness and coping behaviors for stress were explored.

Methods: Adults were recruited to a 4-week app-based health and well-being study. Participants were randomized into either a mindfulness meditation (i.e. Calm) group or a health education (POD) control group. Participants were asked to participate at least 10 minutes per day. Assessments were conducted for stress, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, physical activity, eating habits, and coping behaviors at pre- and post-intervention and voluntary phone interviews were held post-intervention. App usage data were collected subjectively through weekly participation logs and through objective app usage data provided by Calm.

Results: Eighty-three participants were enrolled into the study and 60 completed the intervention and were analyzed. Feasibility and demand benchmarks were met with 96% of participants satisfied with the intervention and 93% found it enjoyable, appropriate, and useful. There was a 70% adherence (minutes/week) to the meditation intervention. Recruitment of men into the intervention group was 38.1% and retention of men was 81.3%. Significant changes were not observed in stress, anxiety, depression, or mindfulness, physical activity, eating habits, and coping behaviors.

Conclusion: The findings of this study support the feasibility of a 4-week, mobile app-based mindfulness meditation intervention (i.e. Calm) in middle-aged adults. These finding do not demonstrate preliminary efficacy of Calm to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression or improvement of mindfulness, physical activity, eating habits, or coping behaviors among middle-aged adults who report elevated stress. These results can be applied for improved design of future studies.
ContributorsLaird, Breanne Michelle (Author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis advisor) / O'Rourke, Holly (Committee member) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
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Description

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a mindfulness-based intervention among pregnant women (12-20 weeks’ gestation) using a mobile meditation app, Calm. This study involved 100 participants who were recruited nationally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a mindfulness-based intervention among pregnant women (12-20 weeks’ gestation) using a mobile meditation app, Calm. This study involved 100 participants who were recruited nationally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Arizona State University (STUDY STUDY00010467). All participants were provided an informed consent document and provided electronic consent prior to enrollment and participation in this study. This study was a randomized, controlled trial (trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04264910). Participants randomized to the intervention group were asked to participate in a minimum of 10 minutes of daily meditation using a mindfulness meditation mobile app (i.e., Calm) for the duration of their pregnancy. Participants randomized to the standard of care control group were given access to the app after they gave birth. Both the intervention and control groups were administered surveys that measured feasibility outcomes, perceived stress, mindfulness, self-compassion, impact from COVID-19, pregnancy-related anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, sleep, and childbirth experience at four time points: baseline (12-20 weeks gestation), midline (24 weeks gestation), postintervention (36 weeks gestation), and follow-up survey (3-5 weeks postpartum). Data is currently being analyzed for publication.

ContributorsLister, Haily (Author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05