Introduction to Mindfulness - Dean Amory

It is interesting to note that neither of the overall scores on the two
mindfulness scales reached statistical significance. Yet the KIMS
detected significant improvement in participants’ mindful qualities.
This suggests that participants were better able to observe their
thoughts and feelings, to act with awareness and to accept without
judgement after taking part in the course. However, their ability to
describe their thoughts and feelings was not significantly improved as
a result. They reported a greater ability to practice core mindfulness
skills, while still having difficulty in articulating their thoughts and
feelings. While no causation can be inferred, their increased ability to
accept their own thoughts and feelings is likely to have aided them in
their ability to be more tolerant of others, and to be more sensitive to
the results of their own behaviour. This would fit well with their
increased satisfaction in social relationships that was found both
quantitatively (p=.2) and reported in qualitative feedback.
There was a trend toward improvement in participants’ self-reported
quality of life, this was most notable in their satisfaction with their
social relationships and their physical environment. This finding is
compatible with their improved ability to accept without judgement
which they reported. While no causation can be inferred, this finding
suggests they may have applied this mindful quality to better accept
their relationships with others and their physical environment.
Participants reported slight improvement in their psychological and
physical functioning, however neither of these was significant.
The lack of significant improvement in psychological functioning is in
keeping with the lack of significant improvement of optimism or
resilience. This suggests that the course did not significantly improve
protective factors relating to mental health. However, the DASS-21
detected significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression
suggesting a decrease in participants’ experiences of negative
psychological states.
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