Title:
Feasability and efficacy of a community-based mindfulness intervention in a substance use disorder sample
Author:
Aileen Van Wie
Thesis Advisor:
Emalee J. Quickel
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Jason M. Prenoveau
Committee Member:
Frank D. Golom
Committee Member:
Stephen E. Fowl
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola Univeristy Maryland
Date Created:
2021
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
The purpose of this research study was to determine whether mindfulness is a feasible and effective intervention for individuals with substance use disorders. Participants included forty-three adults with substance use disorders who were recruited from a Baltimore city recovery center. The participants were not actively using substances at the time of the intervention, making relapse prevention the focus of the study. Community partners for this intervention were the recovery center—who provided participants and a space for the intervention—and Holistic Life Foundation, an organization with trained mindfulness instructors who led the intervention. Participants were initially divided into two groups—intervention and treatment as usual. By the second week of the intervention, low participation in the intervention group resulted in consolidation of the groups, which allowed all consented participants to attend the mindfulness group. The intervention involved an hour-long, yoga-based mindfulness meditation group once a week for a period of twelve weeks. Additionally, all individuals were given several questionnaires to complete four times throughout the intervention process (before beginning, and then once every four weeks). The questionnaires assessed the constructs of substance cravings, mindfulness, distress tolerance, anxiety, depression, and overall satisfaction with the intervention. Results showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ levels of mindfulness, anxiety, and depression when comparing pre- and post-treatment data. There was no significant change in participants’ cravings or levels of distress tolerance from Week 1 to Week 12. This research highlighted a significant change in experiences of anxiety and depression, which are common triggers to substance use and which were reduced from pre- to post-mindfulness.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Subject:
Academic theses
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctor
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
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Identifier:
WieAV-22
