Category: mindfulness

In the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, it is necessary to choose a policy or an intervention and demonstrate its impact on the health of the population through various quality improve models and frameworks. In the analysis of the worth of a mindfulness meditation program for nurses, a translational science model will be applied. The main idea of this model is to focus on the connection between scientific and practical knowledge. It was developed bench-to-bedside clinical research by Khoury at el. in 2007 (as cited in Reavy, 2016). There are four main phases of the translational science model, also known as T-phases, that interact with each other during the entire intervention.

The first translational phase includes such elements as basic research and development. As soon as a problem area is identified, and the background information is gathered to prove the necessity of the intervention, new opportunities and approaches to a health problem are discussed. In this case, a mindfulness meditation program plays a crucial role in nursing wellbeing because job burnout is hard to avoid, and it has negative outcomes on the quality of work. The main objective of this phase is to understand the research process and apply findings to practice (Reavy, 2016). Recommendations for new research must be created on the basis of the offered plan, methods, and literature review.

The next phase is a practice that consists of evidence-based practice (EBP) findings and pilot implementation. In other words, the DNP project should be based on an EBP intervention that has already been applied in the real world. In the 1970s, Jon Kabat-Zinn created the mindfulness-based stress reduction program for patients who struggle with difficulties and physical/mental illnesses, following simple Buddhist principles (Ackerman, 2020). Although this program aimed at helping patients in need, with time, it has become a solid intervention for people from different fields to control their stress and improve the quality of work. The Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts and other related websites provide clear guidelines on how to take exercises and achieve mindfulness (Ackerman, 2020). This EBP intervention program lasts eight weeks, and each week has its goals and impact on the participants. Mindful breathing during the first week helps to understand the basics of mind-body medicine, and body scan exercises of the second week show participants how they could react to stress.

The third phase of the translational science model is known as dissemination research, when EBP guidelines are translated into health practice. At this period, the researcher has to compare the conditions offered in the already chosen EBP intervention with the conditions of the current study. As soon as all controversies are removed, it is possible to investigate the local population and the settings to make sure that similar steps and ideas may be implemented, and certain outcomes are achieved for analysis.

The last fourth phase is based on collaborative research, the focus of which is to compare the quality of life before and after the intervention. As well as any practice, the mindfulness meditation program should have a certain impact on the population. Intervention effects, cost analysis, and recommendations are identified to prove the correctness of the chosen approach (Reavy, 2016). The evaluation of the real-world outcomes is a final step of the translational science model when change is taken and explained.

In general, the implementation of a translational science model in this DNP project helps to combine theoretical and practical contributions in the field of nursing. The chosen EBP intervention proves that stress reduction and emotional wellbeing influence human behaviors and relationships. Nurses may become patients, and the development of mindfulness meditation programs is a helpful approach for them to avoid mental health complications.

References

Ackerman, C. E. (2020). MBSR: 25 mindfulness-based stress reduction exercise and courses. Positive Psychology. Web.

Reavy, K. (2016). Inquiry and leadership: A resource for the DNP project. F.A. Davis Company.

Introduction

Substance abuse is one of the leading social problems in the United States. In particular, alcohol is one of the most abused substances in the country. The American Psychological Association (2004) defines substance abuse as  a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by such symptoms as failure to meet responsibilities to societal constructs, development of physically hazardous tendencies, social deviance leading to legal repercussions, and disruption to destruction of social relationships.

Some symptoms of abuse that conform with the APA (2004) definition are missing class and performing poorly of assessments which indicate failure to meet academic responsibilities which are among the societal constructs to which college students are affiliated with, driving while under the influence of alcohol and getting into physical brawls which examples of the development of hazardous tendencies, being taken into custody by police for diverse transgressions which indicate social deviance leading to legal repercussions, and receiving criticism from friends and family, and arguing excessively which shows the disruption of social relationships.

Other related symptoms include increased instances of dropping out from school or being placed on academic probation, increased tension with family members, and a general decrease in the amount of social and emotional support given to other members of the family (Smith, 2007). It can be affirmed that alcohol abuse is a continuing major concern of contemporary society which substantiates the importance of devising an intervention that can allow people who drink alcohol to do so without endangering themselves and their relationships with other people.

The aim of any intervention should not be to free subjects from wanting to use the substance that they abuse, perhaps not even to reduce the amount of the substance that they are abusing, but to help them find ways to use the substance such as to reduce the adverse effects as described in APA (2004). The goal is to find effective means to regulate and plan substance use in such a way that would not produce the adverse affects that abuse is defined to produce.

This paper aims to analyse the effectiveness of Motivational enhancement therapy to be used as intervention methods for helping addicts of alcohol. In this way, the paper particularly addresses the problem of substance abuse. The paper introduces and evaluates an intervention approach aimed at reducing the occurrence of abuse of the particular substance, consequentially reducing its adverse effects as well.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a theoretical model which is designed to help addicts of substance and alcohol abuse to commit themselves to initiate positive behavioural changes (Lambie, 2004). MET is based on strategies which focus client-centred counselling and the systems theory so that clients are motivated to being about positive alterations in their behaviour through brief periods of intervention. MET avoids the use of direct persuasion techniques and counsellors follow a style which is gentle so that the therapeutic relationship is seen as a bond of friendship rather than one in which the client is the receiver and the counsellor, the specialist (Lambie, 2004).

Research and studies indicate the use of MET for substance abuse and alcoholic clients, many of whom display resistance and traits of narcissism. The Met was particularly designed as a standardized form of counselling treatment, occurring in a brief period of four sessions which benefitted patients who reflected low levels of readiness for change and showed better results as compared to the CBT or 12-step model (Ingersoll & Wagner, 1997). Researchers have confirmed MET to be more successful that the preceding approaches due to the enhanced outcomes and retention rate of substance abuse clients (Aubrey, 1998).

MET is a therapy model which enables addicts of alcohol and substance abuse to be motivated to change by the active use of listening and the gentle feedbacks provided by counsellors and therapists. The MET is based primarily on the tenet that addicts and clients have the capacity to change and are responsible enough to desire positive changes in their lives with the help of counsellors who create conditions for the enhancement of motivation and morale of clients (Miller et al., 1995). Counsellors play the vital role to prepare clients for change without actually pressurizing or pushing them, simply by boosting inherent motivation among clients which passively initiates and then gently persuades clients to make efforts for positive behavioural changes in their lives.

Brief Motivational Intervention

Brief motivational intervention is a mindfulness based strategy and intervention plan which focuses largely on acceptance through a non judgemental approach and has been found to yield positive results with addicts of alcohol abuse (Bowen et al., 2007). The intervention is initiated with a screening method which enables the identification of abusers, which is then followed by an intervention design. The method is based on a health questionnaire as the most preferred tool for screening clients (Beich et al., 2003). The self accomplished questionnaire enables the drawing out of honest facts from the client which in turn facilitates the client to self address the alcohol tendencies in an effective manner, over a period of time.

However, it must be remembered that intervention can be effective through periodic intervention so that clients can avail of assistance from the initial to the final stage when the abusive tendency has been completely addressed. Brief motivational intervention is a problem solving process in which the therapist and the client identify the intervention plan by keeping in view the goals of the therapy (Hofmann and Amundson, 2007). Researchers support and confirm the success of the brief motivational intervention strategy due to the positive impact it has on the reduction in the alcoholic abusive tendencies of addicts (Carey, et al., 2006).

The questionnaire of the motivational intervention therapy fulfils this purpose and helps clients to identify their core beliefs which cause misconceptions leading to use and abuse of alcohol. The brief intervention motivational therapy complements the approach of mindfulness based strategy which focuses on the identification of irrational thoughts in addicts and facilitates self awareness of personal negative and dysfunctional thoughts which are questioned and replaced by positive behavioural approaches (Hofmann and Amundson, 2007).

Motivational intervention strategy encourages clients to formulate and test their hypothesis which enables them to understand their own problems and accordingly devise solutions for solving them (Hofmann and Amundson, 2007).

Motivation is provided by the therapists through encouragement, transparency and clear reasoning while answering questions and reacting to the doubts of the client. The substitution of irrational thoughts and approaches with rational ones is not a simple process which occurs through positive thinking techniques which are not taught to the client, but are modified by the client on the basis of questioning and testing of such behaviour by the clients themselves so that they are able to gain realistic perspectives of the world through introspection and feedback (Hofmann and Amundson, 2007).

Thus, through the various principles of MET applied to brief motivational intervention, therapists encourage clients to gauge the root cause of the problem and motivate them to personally design solutions which can be affirmed after they are appropriately tested. Rather than telling the client what to do, therapists and counsellors function as guides for addicts and clients and facilitate them to draw out their own solutions based on personal values and judgements, through motivation and encouragement.

References

American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th edition). Washington, DC.

Aubrey, L. L. (1998). Motivational interviewing with adolescents presenting for outpatient substance abuse treatment. (Doctoral dissertation, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque) Dissertation Abstracts International, 59, 1357.

Beich, A., Thorsen, T., and Rollnick, S. (2003). Screening in brief intervention trials targeting excessive drinkers in general practice: systematic review and meta-analysis British Medical Journal 327 (7414): 536542.

Bowen S., Witkiewitz K., Dillworth T., and Marlatt A. (2007). The role of thought suppression in the relationship between mindfulness meditation and alcohol use. Addictive Behaviors 32 (2007) 23242328.

Carey, K., Carey, M., Maistoa, S., and Hensona, J. (2006). Brief Motivational Interventions for Heavy College Drinkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 74(5): 943-954.

Hofmann S., Asmundson G. (2008). Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapy: New wave or old hat? Clinical Psychology Review 28 (2008) 116.

Ingersoll, K., & Wagner, C. (1997). Motivational enhancement groups for the Virginia Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes Evaluation (SATOE) model: Theoretical background and clinical guidelines. Richmond: The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services.

Kremer, M., and Levy, D. (2008). Peer Effects and Alcohol Use among College Students. J Eco Pers. 22 (3), 189-206.

Lambie, Glenn W. (2004). Motivational Enhancement therapy: a tool for professional school counselors working with adolescents. Professional School Counseling 7.4 (April 2004): 268(9).

Miller, W. R., Zweben, A., DiClemente, C. C., & Rychtarik, R. G. (1995). Motivational Enhancement Therapy manual: A clinical research guide for therapists treating individuals with alcohol abuse and dependence (Vol. 2, Project MATCH Monograph Series). Rockville, MD: National institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Smith, J. (2007). The effects of alcohol abuse on African American families. MAI. 45 (1), 483  495.

Purpose of the Study

One of the peculiar characteristics of female sexuality is the independence of womens emotional, behavioral, and physiological responses to sexual stimuli. Female sexual response is not a monolith, uniform phenomenon; in fact, it is possible to break it down to at least two major components. The genital sexual response is primarily neurovascular in nature and manifests itself as increased blood flow to a persons sexual organs (Velten et al., 2018). However, sexual experience is not strictly physical, which is why the second component, referred to as subjective, plays a no less important role. An individual processes sexual experiences mentally and psychologically as well, and it is their mind that signals their readiness for a sexual act (Velten et al., 2018). Research shows that the two processes  genital and subjective responses  are not perfectly aligned. Interestingly enough, it is women who show the most variation in the relationship between genital and mental arousal. While some women experience both processes simultaneously, others report low or even negative concordance.

Velten et al. (2018) argue that there is still little understanding of the causes of sexual discordance in women. The researchers speculate that this phenomenon is likely to be one of the contributors to female sexual dissatisfaction. Statistically, 40% of adult women experienced at least some sexual difficulties within the last year. Indeed, connecting body and mind may be a challenging task that, as hypothesized by Velten et al. (2018), can be facilitated through mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice stemming from Buddhist meditative traditions defined as present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness and a focus on the now (Velten et al., 2018, p. 778). Thus, the main purpose of the present study was to measure the effects of a laboratory-based mindfulness exercise compared to a visualization exercise on the subjective and genital sexual response (H1). The second hypothesis was the influence of the said exercises on sexual concordance in women. The second research purpose was to pinpoint the association between different aspects of mindfulness and female sexual response.

Description of the Procedures

For their study, Velten et al. (2018) recruited 41 women that met their eligibility criteria. The majority resided in British Columbia, Canada; they were 19 years old and older, native English speakers or fluent in English, not pregnant or breastfeeding. Velten et al. (2019) excluded women who were not sexually active, menopausal, had an ongoing mental condition or were on medication that could interfere with their sex drive. The genital response was measured using a vaginal photoplethysmograph that participants inserted themselves after a quick instruction. The subjective dimension of sexual arousal was evaluated through self-reports, where participants were asked to describe the intensity of their internal and external experiences. For their comfort, their armchairs were equipped with optic mouses where they could report their state from 7 (highest sexual arousal) to -2 (turned off) in one click. Lastly, women were offered the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire that covered aspects such as observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience.

First, women viewed a short nature documentary followed by a pornographic film showing a heterosexual couple going through foreplay, mutual oral sex, and penile-vaginal intercourse. The chosen film was visually pleasing, did not contain any depiction of violence, and was highly rated by other women. After the first viewing, women received an audio mindfulness or visualization intervention, encouraging them to focus on the present. The intervention was followed by yet another viewing of a pornographic film of the same duration. In the subsequent data analysis, subjective sexual arousal (SSA) and vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) were used as dependent and interventions as independent variables. Apart from that, SSA and VPA were investigated for collinearity to determine the level of concordance.

Discussion of the Results of the Study

The studys findings confirmed Hypothesis 1 that indeed, mindfulness practice has the potential to influence female sexual response. It appeared that compared to the visualization task, the mindfulness task was a greater predictor of increased subjective sexual arousal. Mindfulness was also associated with a better concordance between SSA and VPA. Velten et al. (2018) conclude that these findings are consistent with the existing body of research. Indeed, focusing on the now and being in the moment can help women improve their subjective perception of sexual arousal. Similarly, other researchers found that mindfulness was superior to simple relaxation when used for eliminating distractions during ones sexual response cycle. However, attention regulation was out of the scope of the present article, making its relationship to mindfulness speculative at this point.

Interestingly enough, Velten et al. (2018) found that women who listened to a mindfulness audio task in between the viewings demonstrated lower genital arousal. In contrast, participants who were offered a visualization exercise showed a higher vaginal pulse amplitude. Velten et al. (2018) argue that as much as this finding does not support their initial hypothesis, there might be a logical explanation for such a discrepancy. It might be that putting an excessive focus on ones body during the mindfulness exercise served as an inhibition to escalating sexual desire.

Velten et al. (2018) report some quite counterintuitive but curious findings regarding the effect of different facets of trait mindfulness on sexual response. It was found that four out of five facets (observing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity) negatively correlated with the genital arousal in women. On top of that, non-judging was a negative predictor for subjective sexual response. As explained by Velten et al. (2018), it is possible that non-mindful women are able to make better judgment about their physical responses. They label sensations as desirable or undesirable with more ease and know which of them should be amplified or stopped altogether for a better experience.

Reflection on the Chosen Article

The female sexual response used to be misunderstood and misinterpreted in scientific circles. For a long time, the female sex drive was benchmarked against its male counterpart and seemed inadequate due to its differences. However, these differences should not be denounced nor overlooked: instead, there is a need for greater acceptance and understanding. Men and women need to amplify their strengths and offer compassion to bridge the gaps and improve their sexual experiences.

Undoubtedly, females seem to be somewhat more complex sexual beings than males with pronounced diversity in their sexual response. Sexual discordance, as a phenomenon that is more present in women than men, must be a major source of frustration for everyone involved. The present article and its findings, though not always supporting the initial hypotheses, are empowering to women. Velten et al. (2018) show that discordance can be addressed through a conscious effort by teaching oneself to focus on the right sensations and block out distractions. On the other hand, however, the study results suggest that too much mental attention to ones sexual response may inhibit physical arousal, which compromises the effectiveness of the proposed techniques. If anything, the chosen article tells a lot about the duality of human sexuality. It is a spontaneous, intuitive, and unsupervised experience that might still need some work and calibration to make it pleasant for both partners.

Reference

Velten, J., Margraf, J., Chivers, M. L., & Brotto, L. A. (2018). Effects of a mindfulness task on womens sexual response. The Journal of Sex Research, 55(6), 747-757. Web.

Problem Statement or Research Question

The research question for the final assignment: What is mindful eating, and how is it beneficial for students?

Databases

ERIC, APA PsycINFO, Education Source.

Annotation Bibliography

Nathalie Lyzwinski, L., Caffery, L., Bambling, M., & Edirippulige, S. (2018). University students perspectives on mindfulness and mHealth: a qualitative exploratory study. American Journal of Health Education, 49(6), 341-353. Web.

This article is devoted to studying students as a group experiencing problems with proper nutrition and weight management. According to the text, this occurs under the influence of multiple stressors, which are compensated by unhealthy food. Mindfulness, in this context, is proposed as a strategy to correct such behavior by strictly controlling a persons activities and needs. The authors conduct qualitative research, exploring students current views and the possibilities of implementing this strategy within platforms such as mHealth. To accomplish this, they formed a group of 8 people, primarily Caucasian women, who were asked a number of questions regarding their worldviews and knowledge.

Accordingly, the most significant findings of this study are the students perspectives regarding the problems of proper nutrition and the adaptation of a mindfulness strategy. According to the students answers, they practically did not think about such practices due to lack of time. Simultaneously, most of them showed interest in implementing the mindfulness approach. However, several barriers have been identified, including social, cultural, temporal, monetary, and environmental. Thus, this study allowed getting the perspective of the study group and identified directions in which work needs to be done to further the introduction of mindful eating.

Ingram, C. M., Breen, A. V., & van Rhijn, T. (2019). Teaching for well-being? Introducing mindfulness in an undergraduate course. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43(6), 814-825. Web.

This articles main topic is the relationship between various mindfulness practices and the mental health of students receiving higher education. The authors emphasize that although the problem of psychological pressure is widespread in such institutions, there are practically no measures of assistance. This situation can be changed using a mindfulness strategy that includes several components. The authors use qualitative analysis of the students perspectives and experiences to analyze how such practices can be introduced into the curriculum. Data for the study was obtained by asking 14 female students about their self-care practices and stressful situations.

The examinations main findings include the students viewpoints on mindfulness practices. In addition, experiences with such practices were generally rated as positive, although some methods caused discomfort to students, which was the reason for abandoning them. In addition, the analysis of the results of training in various self-care practices has shown that their application is highly dependent on the individual and context. As a result, the authors recommend teaching students not specific actions but certain tools that will allow them to analyze their feelings and sensations better. Thus, they will be provided with various approaches that may be applicable in different situations.

Akil, M. (2022). The mediating role of duration and intensity of physical activity in increasing eating awareness: Adolescent and parental participation study. JTRM in Kinesiology, 10-15.

According to the articles author, unhealthy eating habits are harmful and can contribute to developing various diseases. This substantiates the need to draw attention to this problem and understand the principles of mindful eating. The author approaches this issue from the perspective of environmental factors, examining the influence of the setting and related activities on nutrition habits. In the context of such factors, they consider physical activity since it contributes to the formation of mindfulness. A survey was conducted among 1117 teenagers aged 15-17 and their parents to explore the possibility of such a connection.

Although the results of this study were mixed, the author found that groups of teenagers prone to physical activity were more likely to have healthy nutritional habits. This is associated, first of all, with the principles of self-control and a tendency to a healthy lifestyle. However, among adolescents engaged in physical activity, there were also observed negative patterns due to the desire to receive a reward for their efforts in the form of tasty and unhealthy food. Nevertheless, for the most part, physical activity positively impacts healthy nutritional habits. It allows studying the principles of mindful eating better to develop health strategies further.

Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Singh, A. N., Winton, A. S., Singh, J., McAleavey, K. M., & Adkins, A. D. (2008). A mindfulness-based health wellness program for an adolescent with Prader-Willi syndrome. Behavior Modification, 32(2), 167-181. Web.

Mindless food intake can be linked to various factors, from harmful habits and addictions to severe illnesses. The paper by Singh et al. is devoted to investigating Prader-Willi syndrome and the related satiety delay in the context of mindfulness strategies. From the authors perspective, using such approaches could help patients with this condition improve their quality of life. To investigate this association, a case study was conducted with a 17-year-old adolescent with Prader-Willi syndrome as a participant. It compared the effects of mindfulness strategies in various combinations with exercise versus no intervention.

As the results of the investigation show, mindful eating has a significant impact on the process of eating and the physical performance of a person. With the consistent application of this strategy, a person can significantly improve their nutritional habits by reducing weight and gradually getting rid of excess food intake. However, the authors emphasize that the most significant effect can be achieved only by combining several methods simultaneously. The best results have been shown with regular exercise, proper diet, and mindful eating. Therefore, although this technique is helpful for the formation of healthy nutritional habits, including for patients with specific conditions, it is only an additional factor.

On average, ten million people around the world undertake a form of meditation practice per day (BBC, 2017). In Australia, about one in six adults practice meditation (Pascoe, 2018). The purpose of meditation is different for each individual. The aim of meditation is to attain an inner state of awareness and intensify personal and spiritual growth (Yogapedia, n.d.). Well-being is the state of a person’s mental, emotional, and physical health factors, strongly linking to health and happiness. Multiple forms of meditation can be undertaken, solely determined by personal preference.

Meditation has multiple benefits contributing to overall health and wellbeing, positively impacting the brain. Through upkeeping, a constant meditation practice can lead to significant benefits on overall wellbeing.

Meditation is the practice of becoming awake, becoming more alive, and aware of the present moment. Familiarising the body with good virtues, additionally, transforming the mind to a good state. Meditation is commonly mistaken for relaxing and leaving the mind, it is, in fact, the contrary, whilst meditation is relaxing, we are becoming mindful rather than mindless, working together with our minds. Everyday life is extremely dependent on the mind. The mind creates reality, therefore, working with your mind, ultimately results in working with the source of happiness. Meditation not only heals spirit but additionally the mind and body (BBC, 2017). Meditation aids in coping with everyday life and improving overall wellbeing (Healthdirect, 2018).

Well-being is important, and a fundamental element to the overall health of an individual. Well-being enables an individual to effectively overcome difficulties and produce optimal achievement in everyday life. Past experiences, trauma, attitudes, and outlook can all contribute to and impact wellbeing negatively (Starjumpz, 2019). Meditation improves wellbeing as by learning to pay attention to what is occurring in our surroundings and within, adjustments can be made leading to significant changes to wellbeing.

Through meditation, wellbeing is improved by picking up cues about the mental state at a quicker rate, slowing the activity of the brain. Well-being is enhanced through meditation by learning to gain attention to what’s happening around and inside. From this, adjustments can be made, resulting in significant changes in wellbeing. “By using diaphragmatic breathing and mindfulness meditation we can more easily access the relaxation response which enables our immune system to be healthier, tissue and cell repair to happen, the heart rate to quieten.” (Michael, 2019).

Multiple studies demonstrate that meditation positively impacts mental and physical health. Whether it’s reducing stress, improving sleep quality, increasing focus, or improving relationships, the research identifies that mediation is key.

In a recent interview with meditation teacher, Melanie Michael, the benefits that she has obtained through meditation, were discussed. “I have become a lot less reactive to the frustrating things that happen in life. I know when I start to feel stressed and can make small adjustments that make a difference to my headspace. I sleep better. My relationships have improved. I am more in the moment with my children. I am more tolerant with my children. I am more focused. I am less judgmental of myself and others.” (Michael, 2019).

Meditation provides a gain in awareness and day-to-day thought processes. Meditation allows the ability to concentrate and focus more, whilst remaining in the present moment, rather than wandering from the past to the future. Thorough gaining space in the mind, enables gaining space to act throughout life in a skillful, considered, and healthy way, rather than react in an immediate, negative, habitual, and destructive way. “We are controlled by our thoughts. It means that if you get up in the morning and feel unhappy, you become an unhappy person. You feel depressed, you become a depressed person you feel anxious, you become an anxious person. In reality, it’s just the food it’s just the thought.” (Clinic, 2019). This suggests that being in control over personal thoughts, and obtaining power over these thoughts, there becomes a choice to let that go.

People commonly turn to a form of meditation practice as a solution in managing stress levels. Stress is the body’s method in response to pressure. Stress is caused by both good and bad experiences. Too much stress can affect physical and mental health, however, in many cases, stress is a healthy reaction in coping with life’s challenges. Stress is common, and the result of ongoing stress contributes to a range of onset psychological issues including anxiety and depression. The body’s automatic stress response is controlled by the automatic nervous system. The automatic nervous system plays a vital role in stress reactivity through the sympathetic nervous system, the main function of mobilizing the body to fight or flee from stressful or threatening situations. Furthermore, the parasympathetic nervous system counterbalances the sympathetic nervous system and returns the body to its baseline state (Pascoe, ABC, 2018). The sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate, blood pressure, and the downstream release of stress-related hormones, on the contrary, the parasympathetic nervous system reduces these factors.

Increased variability of heart rate, which plays a vital role in transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. In a study where meditators and no meditators were given the flu virus, meditators were able to produce a greater number of antibodies and had increased immune function. Changes can be seen on a cellular level. Chromosomes have protective protein complexes called telomeres which help reduce damage to your DNA. A shortened telomere length has been linked to several diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. When cancer survivors completed a meditation program, their bodies demonstrated significant increases in telomere length. It is believed that psychological intervention particularly decreases decreasing stress has a direct effect on the enzyme telomerase which has been shown to counteract by adding DNA to the shrinking telomeres. Meditation is not a substitute for other medical advice, however, meditation acts as the working out of your brain, and provides man health benefits (Rachel Salt, 2015).

Undertaking a daily practice of meditation should result in significant changes to one’s mental state.

The access to multiple meditation techniques often provokes confusion but is simpler than it appears. Meditation commonly begins by sitting in a quiet surrounding, closing the eyes, calming the mind, and focusing on breathing. Through mediation, essentially enriches compassion and awareness. This is due as the mind is being trained to stop being easily distracted, and rather, be focused in the present moment. “Any meditation is better than no meditation, but for best results as often as you can. It could be as short as a 5-minute meditation on some days and a 20-30-minute meditation on other days. Whatever you can fit in.” (Michael, 2019).

The mind’s initial response and nature are to think. Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, the practice is to become more observant in thinking without getting caught within thoughts and emotions. It is learned to tame restlessness by developing awareness for the moments when attention has wandered.

Through a diverse range of techniques and forms, meditation provides accessibility for everyone. Any meditation is better than none, but achieving optimum results, will allow for the greatest results. In particular, it was found through constant, and consistent practice, overall wellbeing is enhanced immensely. With enhanced wellbeing, the quality of everyday life is enriched to live life at its maximum potential. Not only is everyday life enriched, but relationships with loved ones and outlook on situations are perceived positively living happier.

Abstract

Meditation is becoming more and more popular in many western countries around the world. The practice has a deep history and roots originating from the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism (Kume, 2018.) The term “meditation” is now used to describe a large number of different techniques as there is not just one type of meditation. According to Vedic science, the true purpose of meditation is to connect yourself to your deep inner Self (Sharma, 2015.) Some of the different types of meditation are breath awareness meditation, mindfulness meditation, and Zen meditation (Vilines, 2017.) There is increasing research that shows various health benefits gained from regularly practicing meditation (Kume, 2018.) Lifestyle and health benefits of regular meditation include improved focus (Walton, 2015), reduced stress (Cooper, 2016), lowered blood pressure (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016), and increases pain tolerance (Giovanni, 2015.) Even though there are many articles and research reports that outline all the benefits of mediation there is a concern that scientific data is lacking. Many of the studies include inconsistent definitions, don’t include a controlled group, and don’t rule out the placebo effect (Stetka, 2017.) For this reason, there is some conflicting information about mediation.

Introduction

Meditation is both mental and emotional. It is practiced in many different cultures such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. (Thomas and Cohen, 2014.) Meditation is defined by The Australian Teachers of Meditation Association as ‘in its broadest and most universal definition, meditation is a discipline that involves turning the mind and attention inward and focusing on a single thought, image, object or feeling’ (Johnson, 2012.) The popularity of meditation is understandable with the number of different benefits. This article describes the process of meditation, its benefits when practiced regularly, conflicting information, and the potential risk factors of the practice.

Technique

Meditation has a long and rich history; it is a precise technique where you relax your mind and be in a state of consciousness. This state of consciousness is completely different from a normal waking state, we are aware but not lettings thoughts control our minds. By meditating we are experiencing the center of consciousness within ourselves (Rama, 2020.)

Even though meditation is practiced in different religions such as Buddhism, it is not part of just any religion. This is because meditation is a science, this means that the process follows a particular order, has defined principles, and produces results that can be verified (Rama, 2020.) There are many different types of meditation including breath awareness meditation, mindfulness meditation, and zen meditation just to name a few (Vilines, 2017.) Attention is something all these types of meditation have in common.

The Process of Meditation

When meditating you are clearing your mind, relaxing, and bringing your focus inwards. During meditation, you are fully awake and alert but instead of being focused on the external world, your mind becomes silent. Meditation becomes deeper when the outside world is no longer distracting you. (Rama, 2020.) One type of meditation is mindfulness meditation which involves remaining aware and present at the moment. A key part of this is instead of dwelling on the past to be aware of current surroundings. Unlike some other forms of mediation, mindfulness meditation can be done anywhere such as waiting in a line. This is done by calmly noticing your surroundings such as sights, smells, and sounds. A common thing to be aware of while partaking in mindfulness meditation is breathing (Vilines, 2017.) Another type of mediation is a breath awareness meditation. During this, you take slow and deep breaths. The goal is to only focus on breathing and block out other thoughts from entering the mind (Vilines, 2017.) Zen meditation is a form of meditation that is practiced in Buddhism. The goal of this is to find a position that is comfortable, focus on breathing and observe your thoughts without any judgment. This form of meditation involves more discipline than other types.

Meditating has many benefits to our overall lifestyle and health. One benefit is that it improves our focus. A study found that a few weeks of meditating helped people focus and their memory improved during verbal reasoning (Walton, 2015.) This happened because the practice of meditating involves focusing our attention and being aware of when it drifts, this improves our overall focus even when not meditating. This benefit can be lasting if meditation is being practiced regularly (Cooper, 2016.)

Meditation also helps reduce anxiety and stress. This happens because the more you meditate you are loosening the connections of particular neural pathways (Cooper, 2016.) Meditation has been known to reduce stress for a while, in particular, mindfulness meditation has been shown to be extremely successful at reducing stress and anxiety (Walton, 2015.) A study conducted in 2012 which consisted of 36 trials found that 25 of them reported better suffering from less anxiety after practicing mediation (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016.)

Meditation has also been successfully proven to improve the blood pressure of those at risk of high blood pressure. This was proven by research conducted in 2009 by an NCCIH funded trial. This research involved 298 university students, they found that meditation may lower high blood pressure. This same study also found that meditation was successful in decreasing stress, anxiety, depression, and anger (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016.)

Research has shown that meditation in particular Zen meditation makes you stronger against pain. The research was conducted by the University of Montreal, they exposed a group that regularly practice Zen meditation and a group who don’t to a painful level of heat. They measured the brain activity and found that those who practiced Zen meditation reported less pain (Giovanni, 2015.)

Mindfulness meditation has become extremely popular with more and more articles outlining all the personal benefits of practicing it. However, there are psychologists who are worried that the hype is outweighing the science. The concern is that despite the many articles and popularity of the meditation type the scientific data is lacking. Many of the studies include inconsistent definitions, don’t include a controlled group, and don’t rule out the placebo effect (Stetka, 2017.) There was a review into this in 2015 published in American Psychologist which found that only 9% of research into this topic has been done in clinical trials that includes a controlled group (Stetka, 2017.) Another study conducted in 2014 which included over 3,500 participants found that there is no evidence of mindfulness meditation increasing attention, lowering substance abuse, aiding sleep, or controlling weight (Stetka, 2017.) This research conflicts with many others about the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation.

Potential Risks of Meditation

Overall meditation is believed to be a safe and healthy practice for everyone to practice. However, some people who suffer from physical limitations may not be able to practice certain types of meditation. For example, some types of meditation involve walking or yoga. There have also been rare reports of meditation making symptoms such as anxiety and depression worse (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016.) There have also been rare reports where meditation has exacerbated symptoms in people who were already severely ill with certain psychiatric problems. However, meditation has been shown to be helpful for those with psychiatric illnesses (Johnson, 2012.) These cases are so rare that it is safe to say the meditation isn’t a potential risk for the majority of the population.

In conclusion, meditation is a beneficial practice for the majority of the population. There is enough research out there to conclude that meditating does have benefits to an individual, even with some research data lacking.

Mindfulness meditation is imbued with centuries of Buddhist tradition and philosophy. Based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction method, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was created by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale. Mindfulness has received a great deal of popularity in the therapeutic environment in the last two decades. Empirical results suggest that multiple clinicians utilize Mindfulness-based interventions techniques in interpersonal counselling environments. Michalak et al. (2019) published a study of the usage of mindfulness by German psychotherapists in private practice. In this research, more than 80 percent of psychotherapists identified utilizing mindfulness techniques at least once during individual psychotherapy with their patients. In addition to growing prominence in the fields of physical and mental wellbeing, mindfulness methods are often seen in a variety of other areas: in the United States, mindfulness techniques are also utilized in colleges, companies, the film industry, and the military. There are currently four well-recognized therapy frameworks that integrate mindfulness practices:

• In the 1970s, Jon Kabat-Zinn, the inventor of a mindfulness-based stress-reduction system, was one of the first people to try to incorporate Buddhist concepts of mindfulness into his research in science and medicine.
• In the 1970s, Marsha Linehan formed DBT with the aid of some Western and Eastern philosophical influences.
• ACT, founded at the end of the 1980s by Steven Hayes, Kelly Wilson and Kirk Strosahl often combine Eastern theories and strategies.
• At the beginning of the 21st century, Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale founded MBCT on the research of Kabat-Zinn.

There are several forms of mindfulness meditation conducted in and out of therapeutic environments. Gentle yoga motions and sitting, cycling, or mountain exercise should be found in relaxation methods as a means to enhance the perception of bodily experiences. Visual signals help an individual retain the knowledge of activity, breathing, and feelings during a variety of different exercises.

In the clinics if we perform ‘Two Steps, One Breath”, will take a moment to pause, feel both feet on the surface, and then experience inhalation and exhalation. A simple action like this just requires a moment and will help us focus, move through the current moment, and stay in contact with the individual. Let’s imagine that we are stuck with an angry patient. And we are feeling nervous, frightened, or puzzled. We note that we are beginning to clench teeth and tighten our hands and curious what to do. Until formulating an answer, we may want to pause for a moment to return to our breath, to the sensations of sitting, or the sounds in the house. And, in silence, we may say to ourselves, can we all be safe. That we all live with knowledge and compassion. Mindfulness practices may be effective strategies to improve our capacity for negative feelings, increasing our willingness to be alert when seated in discomfort. As part of a holistic approach to treatment, mindfulness is also incorporated into many therapeutic approaches. Also, mindfulness is suitable for people who are searching for more intense and vibrant interaction with dealing with reality. Mindfulness activities should be used to reinforce contemporary fashion as a powerful outlet for communication with the beauty of the moment (Geschwind et al. 2011).

While there is currently no definition about how to describe mindfulness, the basic definition applies to the practice of cultivating, in a nonjudgmental way, a greater understanding of what is occurring within one’s mind and body from moment to moment. MBCT lets people understand how to identify their sense of self and to perceive themselves as distinct from their emotions and moods. This intervention is conducted as a weekly group recovery regimen for a span of eight weeks. Many mental health providers have implemented thoughtfulness-promoting practices into therapy sessions, and such exercises have been found to significantly relieve signs of distress, alleviate tension, and enhance cognitive regulation, irrespective of the actual problems being discussed. More research is required to recognize specific neural changes due to mindfulness meditation, particularly in clinical communities who are progressively undergoing meditation-based therapies. Mindfulness allows us to communicate with ourselves and others, to respond productively to difficult circumstances, and to find more harmony in our busy lives. Mindfulness work has found that there are multiple advantages of mindfulness, including:

• Reduced stress response
• Enhanced immune system function
• Enhanced caring capability
• Strengthened ability to regulate emotions.
• Changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms
• Increased willingness to observe situations of more insight and objectivity.

To conclude, an increasing number of practitioners have incorporated mindfulness into interpersonal counselling during the last decades. Several reviewers have reported methodological deficiencies in certain MBCT research, such as low sample size, lack of test groups, and lack of randomization, both of which can affect the findings obtained. Since research on this issue is in its infancy, we are conscious that our guidelines are preliminary and just one of a few different viewpoints on the problem of what healthy incorporation of mindfulness into individual counselling would look like. In fact, the extension of mindfulness to various medical areas has the character of a mass campaign that is being sought by practitioners. Consequently, the ideas that we are advocating would undoubtedly need to be updated and expanded in the future.

Research shows the efficacy to treat many stresses in today’s life that result in anxiety in Latino teenagers (Edwards, et al. 2014). Mindfulness interventions have become more popular in the last decade in working with teenagers’ research (Edwards, et al. 2014). Mindfulness meditation techniques support teenagers to focus on the present helping them to recognize the trigger for their anxiety (Perry-Parrish, Copeland-Linder, Webb, and Sibinga, 2015). Research results have demonstrated that teenagers who practice mindfulness develop awareness and this reduces emotional distress, increase positive ways to cope with difficult situations and improves their well-being (Phillips, et al., 2012). Many counselors in training work together with teachers, both can develop mindfulness techniques that can also work in managing the difficult situation in the classroom that involves strong emotions among teenagers (Phillips, et al., 2012). Phillips, et al. (2012) found that a short mindfulness-based program can produce both beneficial changes in brain function and improved immune function. This study also showed that the degree of activation of the left prefrontal cortex, associated with positive mood states, predicted the robustness of immune response, providing support on the interrelation of affect and immune function (Phillips, et at., 2012). Researchers learned that by practicing 20 minutes of mindfulness a day, teenagers reported a subjective reduction in stress were correlated with decreased grey-matter density in the amygdala, a region known to regulate the human stress response (Phillips, et at., 2012).

What will be covered in your session; this is where you include the content you will be covering. This is where you fulfill what you said in the learning objectives. You said I was going to learn best-practices for working with quarantined adolescents? Then, tell me what some of those best practices are.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common issues among teenagers and increase the risk of suicide attempts (Strawn, et al., 2015). Strawn, et al. (2015) found that anxiety disorders are common in youth at risk for developing bipolar disorder and anxious youth with a bipolar parent have three times the normal risk of developing mania. Many of these clients are prescribed with medication that includes antidepressants, and 50% of these clients present secondary adverse effects resulting in discontinuation (Strawn, et al., 2015). Researchers have found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based, manualized treatment for emotional disorders that combines features of mindfulness training and cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) (Strawn, et al. 2015). The inclusion of mindfulness in other therapeutic approaches shows promising efficacy data (Strawn, et al. 2015). Mostly importantly, and in contrast to antidepressants in youth with a familial risk for bipolar disorder, MBCT-C is associated with minimal adverse effects.

According to a study some regions of the brain can change when teenagers practice mindfulness. Students who had practiced mindfulness exercises for 27 minutes a day, the thickness cortical structure (i.e., grey matter) that is associated with attention, working memory, processing sensory input, self-reflection, empathy, and effective regulation increased (Phillips, et al., 2012). Researchers suggest that in patients with social phobia in whom amygdala activation is increased compared with healthy subjects–10 weeks of MBSR was associated with decreased amygdala activation (Strawn, et al. 2015). A study found that anxiety symptoms were significantly reduced following a treatment (Strawn, et al. 2015). MBCT-C would be associated with increase in activation in prefrontal structures, which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders (Strawn, et al. 2015).

Three mindfulness exercises that teachers can use in their classroom are:

1. Body scan – In a comfortable position, focus on your exhalations; exhale and relax. For several exhalations, focus on the supporting environment (e.g., bed, floor, chair) and allow it to support your body. Sink into it. Following these exhalations, allow your mind to wander through your body, in any sequence that occurs. As your mind moves through the body, identify any sensations you notice (heaviness, warmth, heartbeat, contact with the floor, gurgling in the stomach, muscle tightness, stillness). Upon identifying a sensation, mentally acknowledge it. If it is muscle tension, take a moment to relax that area, and then continue to wander through the body, passively searching for other sensations. You will notice that the number of sensations diminishes after a few minutes. As the mind continues to focus inward on the body, the mind will become quiet. This can be a very pleasant way to drop off to sleep (Awad, 2014).
2. Deep breathing – To practice, lie on your back, with one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Observe the movement of your two hands as you breathe. Now try to focus your breathing in your belly so that that hand moves while the hand on your chest stays virtually still. Allow your breathing to be calm and rhythmic rather than hurried, forced, or overly deep. As you breathe from deep in your belly, allow relaxation to flow into muscles throughout your body. You might find it useful to repeat a calming word or phrase to yourself, or to picture a calming image in your mind’s eye. Experiment with what works best for you. Once you have developed some skill with daily practice, try the same techniques in other positions, such as standing, sitting, walking, or driving your car (Awad, 2014).
3. Counting breath 4-7-8 – This is an excellent quick relaxation technique. Place the tip of your tongue on the soft ridge of gum directly inside your top front teeth, a calming contact point. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, trying to breathe into your abdomen, per above. Hold for a count of seven. Exhale through gently pursed lips, still holding your tongue tip on your palate, for a count of eight. Repeat four times. Any counting rate works; it’s the ratio that matters so use whatever is most comfortable for you (Awad, 2014).

I will be addressing specific issues related to Latino teenagers suffering from anxiety disorder and how they used mindfulness exercise to decrease its symptoms.

References

1. Awad, A. (2014). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook. Lexington, KY: Ayham Awad.
2. Castellanos, R., Spinel, M. Y., Phan, V., Orengo-Aguayo, R., Humphreys, K. L., & Flory, K. (2019). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cultural Adaptations of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Hispanic Populations. Mindfulness, 11(2), 317–332. doi: 10.1007/s12671-019-01210-x
3. Edwards, M., Adams, E. M., Waldo, M., Hadfield, O. D., & Biegel, G. M. (2014). Effects of a Mindfulness Group on Latino Adolescent Students: Examining Levels of Perceived Stress, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Symptoms. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 39(2), 145–163. doi: 10.1080/01933922.2014.891683
4. Meiklejohn, J., Phillips, C., Freedman, M.L. et al. (2012). Integrating Mindfulness Training into K-12 Education: Fostering the Resilience of Teachers and Students. Mindfulness (3) 291–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0094-5
5. Strawn, J. R., Cotton, S., Luberto, C. M., Patino, L. R., Stahl, L. A., Weber, W. A., … Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. (2016, May 17). Neural Function Before and After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Anxious Adolescents at Risk for Developing Bipolar Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/cap.2015.0054
6. Tatter, G. (2019, January 23). Making Time for Mindfulness. Retrieved from https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/19/01/making-time-mindfulness
7. Villines, Z. (2016, July 25). The Effects of Mindfulness on the Adolescent Brain. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effects-of-mindfulness-on-the-adolescent-brain-0727161
8. Program Guide Description (400 character limit)
9. The program guide is very important, similar to the title. For those 50 sessions I’m choosing between, if your title captures my attention, then I will read the description to make my final decision. Make your program sound interesting!
10. Counselors at schools are finding that more students are suffering from anxiety disorders. Studies suggest that mindfulness practices in students can reduce anxiety symptom and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems (Tatter, 2019).

In the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, it is necessary to choose a policy or an intervention and demonstrate its impact on the health of the population through various quality improve models and frameworks. In the analysis of the worth of a mindfulness meditation program for nurses, a translational science model will be applied. The main idea of this model is to focus on the connection between scientific and practical knowledge. It was developed bench-to-bedside clinical research by Khoury at el. in 2007 (as cited in Reavy, 2016). There are four main phases of the translational science model, also known as T-phases, that interact with each other during the entire intervention.

The first translational phase includes such elements as basic research and development. As soon as a problem area is identified, and the background information is gathered to prove the necessity of the intervention, new opportunities and approaches to a health problem are discussed. In this case, a mindfulness meditation program plays a crucial role in nursing wellbeing because job burnout is hard to avoid, and it has negative outcomes on the quality of work. The main objective of this phase is to understand the research process and apply findings to practice (Reavy, 2016). Recommendations for new research must be created on the basis of the offered plan, methods, and literature review.

The next phase is a practice that consists of evidence-based practice (EBP) findings and pilot implementation. In other words, the DNP project should be based on an EBP intervention that has already been applied in the real world. In the 1970s, Jon Kabat-Zinn created the mindfulness-based stress reduction program for patients who struggle with difficulties and physical/mental illnesses, following simple Buddhist principles (Ackerman, 2020). Although this program aimed at helping patients in need, with time, it has become a solid intervention for people from different fields to control their stress and improve the quality of work. The Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts and other related websites provide clear guidelines on how to take exercises and achieve mindfulness (Ackerman, 2020). This EBP intervention program lasts eight weeks, and each week has its goals and impact on the participants. Mindful breathing during the first week helps to understand the basics of mind-body medicine, and body scan exercises of the second week show participants how they could react to stress.

The third phase of the translational science model is known as dissemination research, when EBP guidelines are translated into health practice. At this period, the researcher has to compare the conditions offered in the already chosen EBP intervention with the conditions of the current study. As soon as all controversies are removed, it is possible to investigate the local population and the settings to make sure that similar steps and ideas may be implemented, and certain outcomes are achieved for analysis.

The last fourth phase is based on collaborative research, the focus of which is to compare the quality of life before and after the intervention. As well as any practice, the mindfulness meditation program should have a certain impact on the population. Intervention effects, cost analysis, and recommendations are identified to prove the correctness of the chosen approach (Reavy, 2016). The evaluation of the real-world outcomes is a final step of the translational science model when change is taken and explained.

In general, the implementation of a translational science model in this DNP project helps to combine theoretical and practical contributions in the field of nursing. The chosen EBP intervention proves that stress reduction and emotional wellbeing influence human behaviors and relationships. Nurses may become patients, and the development of mindfulness meditation programs is a helpful approach for them to avoid mental health complications.

References

Ackerman, C. E. (2020). MBSR: 25 mindfulness-based stress reduction exercise and courses. Positive Psychology. Web.

Reavy, K. (2016). Inquiry and leadership: A resource for the DNP project. F.A. Davis Company.

Abstract

Inattentional blindness comes up as a result of an individual’s mindfulness or mental depletion. Mindfulness and mental depletion are affected by the changes that happen in the scene. Mindfulness and mental depletion also affect inattentional blindness in the cases of repetition of the scene and the perceptions held by the individual.

Moreover, memory makes an individual become more attentive as opposed to being inattentive when they remember scenes they have seen before. Human beings are also limited to a certain measure of mindfulness where they can only take note of a limited number of events at a particular time. Mindfulness is the interaction between the internal and external environment of an individual.

Introduction

People visualize many things and what they see is dependent on the attention they give it. In some instances, people have failed to recognize an event or an object in a scene yet it is obviously visible. The situation has been given the name Inattentional blindness. Inattentional blindness is defined as a situation where an individual is unable to visualize some of the features in a visual scene because they have not paid attention to them (Simons & Chabris1999, p. 1070).

Chiesa et al (2011, p. 449) states that, mindfulness is a state of mind where an individual is aware of the immediate environment both inside and outside. This report explains how mindfulness and mental depletion influence inattentional blindness.

Methodology

The research is based on secondary information from the journals, books and other secondary sources. The topic has been researched in depth and several scholars have been able to conduct experiments and document their findings.

1. Findings/ results.
2. How mindfulness and mental depletion influence inattentional blindness.
3. Changing scene.

Simons & Chabris (1999, p. 1070) argue that inattentive blindness occurs frequently in an individual when visual scenes are dynamic. Although people may be involved in an attentive situation, they may even fail to see a scene because they lack attention. In other cases, events may be outstanding yet attention will be given because the event was expected.

Repetitive scenes

Chiesa et al (2011, p. 449) notes that individuals have the ability to sustain mindfulness if they consistently view a repetitive scene. Mindfulness can also be fostered by meditation which enables an individual to devote attention to a particular scene.

Visual scenes that are similar to the one given attention are likely to be recognized as indicated by Simons & Chabris (1999, p. 1071). This is because the individual is mindful of the visual scene given attention. In the same way, the scene that is diverse from the one given attention is likely to be ignored.

The positioning of objects, whether moving or still, has little impact on the mindfulness of an individual. If an observer has mental depletion, the position of the object or event will not influence their ability to be mindful. A higher focus of attentiveness on a particular scene will reduce the chances of inattentional blindness.

Perception

Perceptions remain the same in the mind of the individual as stated by Mack & Rock (1999, p. 24). The distance, as well as the size of a scene, has no influence on the inattentive blindness. Mindfulness will also subscribe to the constant perceptions.

Expected scenes have a greater chance of reducing inattentional blindness. Attention is given to events that are likely to happen and hence other events might not be noticed. Similarly, the changes that occur in a scene may also gain inattention.

Simons & Chabris (1999, p. 1073) argues that events that have been given little attention may actually be given attention after resurfacing. In a consecutive scene, such an event will be free of inattentive blindness. However, expected events would receive attention much earlier than the unexpected event.

Mack & Rock (1999, p. 13) points out that, mindfulness is closely related to perceptions. Perceptions are stimulated due to mindfulness given to a particular event. In this case, individuals are aware of the actual event. Thus perception and mindfulness are synonymous.

Simon (2000, p. 150) adds that inattentional blindness is also affected by mental depletion since the attention is directed elsewhere. This is irrespective of how the revelation of the object or event is. It also causes individuals to fail to see relevant scenes or object. It remains as an unattended stimulus because it has the potential of being given attention.

Simons & Chabris (1999, p. 1073) have indicated that perception may occur without the attention of the individual. This argument is not validated by Mack & Rock (1999, p. 13) due to the view that perception occurs only when there is attention. The individual selectively chooses the desirable scenes depending on their interests.

Memory

Memory and mindfulness make it possible to overcome inattentional blindness. This is because the mind affects the ability to provide mindfulness to an event as well as accumulate perceptions of the objects that have been observed. The individuals are considered mindful and free from mental depletion if they recall an event. Mindfulness is therefore an interaction between the internal and external environment.

Chiesa et al (2011, p. 449) reveals that mindfulness increases the ability of memorizing and attentiveness. An Individual’s memory is also increased as he gains skills in attention. There are other events that are constantly happening at a given time and mindfulness is important as it causes one to be aware of the surrounding.

Some scenes or objects may take the entire attention of an individual. At this point the individual is hardly mindful and the other scenes or events are neglected. Another event may gain attention after an individual is acquainted with seeing and being mindful to a few events.

Limitations of human being and emotions

Chiesa et al (2011, p. 449) states that the emotional state of an individual encourages mental depletion. An individual may be engaged in thoughts and still not be able to give attention to the events in the scene. Simons & Chabris (1999, p. 1070) concurs by noting that the brain has a limited ability to recall scenes and the state of the brain plays a major part in inattentional blindness.

An interference between the brain and the scenes influence inattentional blindness. The chance to recognize a scene that has already been seen is lost. Tiredness and over engagement is one of the origins of mental depletion.

Individuals have a limited ability to give attention to the events or objects that are in their scenes. They can also improve their attentiveness by mastering the art of being mindful. Mental depletions are also a major setback for competent mindfulness because they increase the level of inattentional blindness (Mack & Rock, 1999, p. 13).

Discussion

It is evident that in a dynamic scene the inattentional blindness is likely to occur because of the influence of mental depletion. Mindfulness enhances the chances of being attentive if a scene is repetitive and remains the same for a longtime. The mind is also important and what an individual has seen earlier and is able to memorize is easily recognizable.

Distance does not affect inattentional blindness because individuals usually have expectations when they are mindful. This means that unexpected events are given little attention. The mind of an individual is limited and therefore only a certain amount of attention can be awarded to specific scenes at a particular time. Emotionally an individual may have inattentional blindness because they are engaged in certain emotional situations.

Conclusion

Inattentional blindness occurs when an individual is unable to give attention to an event or an object that can be visualized clearly. This is because the human mind is not capable of accommodating all the events that happened at a particular time. For this reason, individuals mind gives priority to those events that are memorable before noticing the new ones.

The position and the size of the event or object is not a factor that influence attention but rather perception. An event that is expected is likely to be seen within the shortest period possible. More so, events that are unexpected may not be seen since there may be no attention.

What is seen has also been perceived hence the mind is important. Thoughts in the mind, the completion of an event and increased attention on a particular single event may foster inattentional blindness. Emotions are also part of disturbances of the mind. Mindfulness which can be learnt can lead to increased attentiveness which limits inattentional blindness.

Reference List

Chiesa, A., Calati, R. & Serretti, A., 2011. Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychology ical findings. Clinical Psychology Review. Vol. 31, pp 449- 464.

Mack, A. & Rock, I., 1999. Inattentional Blindness. Web.

Simon, D. J., 2000. Attentional capture and inattentional blindness. Trends in cognitive Sciences, vol. 4, no.4, pp 147- 155.

Simons, D. J. & Chabris, C. F., 1999.Gorillas in our midst: Sustained intentional Blindness for dynamic events. Perception, vol 28, no. pp. 10- 1074.