Psychological Effects of a 1-Month Meditation Retreat on Experienced Meditators: The Role of Non-attachment

Montero-Marin, J. ; Puebla-Guedea, M. ; Herrera-Mercadal, P. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Cebolla, A. ; Soler, J. ; Demarzo, M. ; Vazquez, C. ; Rodriguez-Bornaetxea, F. ; Garcia-Campayo, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Background: There are few studies devoted to assessing the impact of meditation-intensive retreats on the well-being, positive psychology, and personality of experienced meditators. We aimed to assess whether a 1-month Vipassana retreat: (a) would increase mindfulness and well-being; (b) would increase prosocial personality traits; and (c) whether psychological changes would be mediated and/or moderated by non-attachment. Method: A controlled, non-randomized, pre-post-intervention trial was used. The intervention group was a convenience sample (n = 19) of experienced meditators who participated in a 1-month Vipassana meditation retreat. The control group (n = 19) comprised matched experienced meditators who did not take part in the retreat. During the retreat, the mean duration of daily practice was 8-9 h, the diet was vegetarian and silence was compulsory. The Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), Non-attachment Scale (NAS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Temperament Character Inventory Revised (TCI-R-67), Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Other Four Immeasurables (SOFI) and the MINDSENS Composite Index were administered. ANCOVAs and linear regression models were used to assess pre-post changes and mediation/moderation effects. Results: Compared to controls, retreatants showed increases in non-attachment, observing, MINDSENS, positive-affect, balance-affect, and cooperativeness; and decreases in describing, negative-others, reward-dependence and self-directedness. Non-attachment had a mediating role in decentring, acting aware, non-reactivity, negative-affect, balance-affect and self-directedness; and a moderating role in describing and positive others, with both mediating and moderating effects on satisfaction with life. Conclusions: A 1-month Vipassana meditation retreat seems to yield improvements in mindfulness, well-being, and personality, even in experienced meditators. Non-attachment might facilitate psychological improvements of meditation, making it possible to overcome possible ceiling effects ascribed to non-intensive practices.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01935

Año: 2016

Publicado en: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY 7 (2016), 1935 [10 pp]
ISSN: 1664-1078

Factor impacto JCR: 2.323 (2016)

Categ. JCR: PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 33 / 128 = 0.258 (2016) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.314 - Psychology (miscellaneous) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/RD12-0005
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/PSI2012-35500

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Social (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Area Psiquiatría (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)