Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness

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. 245

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