Mindfulness and Meaning in Life (1 CE)

Number of credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, LMFTs, and Counselors

Course by: Rachel Schoor, Ph.D.

Content by: Chu, S. T. W., & Mak, W. W. (2020). How Mindfulness Enhances Meaning in Life: A Meta-Analysis of Correlational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials. Mindfulness, 11,1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01258-9

Course Description: Mindfulness- based interventions have previously been shown to reduce physical and psychological distress among a wide range of populations. However, it is also important to investigate whether and how mindfulness interventions might enhance people’s self-perceptions of their own life meaning. The present study utilized two meta-analyses to systematically examine relationships between mindfulness and life meaning. One of the meta-analyses utilized 22 correlational studies (25 samples, N=7895), while the other utilized 9 randomized controlled trials (11 samples, N=912) examining the relationship between mindfulness and perceptions of life meaning. Cross-sectional correlations between mindfulness and life meaning were found to be moderate (r=.37).  Likewise, the meta-analysis using only randomized controlled trials also indicated that there was a moderate relationship between mindfulness and life meaning (Hedge’s g=0.53). A systematic review of the literature suggests that decentering, authentic self- awareness, and attention to positive experiences may be the mechanisms of the intervention responsible for improving perceptions of life meaning. While the findings show promise for applying mindfulness-based mediation interventions to improve perceptions of meaning in life, additional research studies with active control groups are needed to establish the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on improving perceptions of life meaning above and beyond the placebo effect.

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least 3 benefits that have been positively associated with perceptions of meaning in one’s life.
• Identify 7 study results and 3 potential mechanisms through which mindfulness may promote increases in life meaning
• Identify at least 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of the present study

Course Outline

• Read and understand How Mindfulness Enhances Meaning in Life: A Meta-Analysis of Correlational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the study
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the relationship between mindfulness interventions and perceptions of life meaning

Approvals: