Publication Date

Summer 2021

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Frederick Grieve (Director), Sally Kuhlenschmidt, Ryan Farmer, and Joseph Case

Degree Program

Doctor of Psychology in Applied Psychology

Degree Type

Doctor of Psychology

Abstract

The goal of this study is to examine whether levels of perceived stress, experiential avoidance, personality traits including openness to experience and agreeableness, and demographic variables will predict the treatment acceptability (indicated by responses on the Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale) of an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. This study collected data in the Spring of 2019. The final number of participants in the study was 116 (40 females, 76 males, Mage = 36, age range: 22-69 years). Participants completed measures including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), the agreeableness and openness to Experience domains from the International Personality Item Pool-Neuroticism Extraversion Openness scale (IPIP-NEO-60), and the Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale (TAAS). Participants also responded to an open-response question regarding what influenced their rating of the mindfulness protocol. This study examined three hypotheses. The first looked at how level of education and age were related to participants’ ratings of treatment acceptability (measured by the TAAS) of an eight-week MBSR protocol. The second looked at how gender and ethnicity related to participants’ ratings of the mindfulness protocol. The third looked at how performance on the PSS, AAQ-II, and IPIP-NEO-60 affected participants’ ratings of the mindfulness protocol. Results from this study indicated that, based on the sample, factors related to personality, perceived stress, and levels of acceptance significantly predict how acceptable an individual will rate an eight-week MBSR protocol. Additional findings from reviewing the open-response question indicated that the length of the protocol influenced individual’s ratings on both the high and low end of the TAAS. The biggest barrier that clinicians will likely face with clients in an MB intervention will be the amount of time involved in completing such a program. Highlighting the benefits of this type of treatment along with explaining to clients the rationale behind the length of time required for such a program will be useful.

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Mental Disorders | Other Mental and Social Health | Psychology

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