The Effects of Mindfulness - Research Proposal Example

Mindfulness is considered an aspect of our consciousness believed to have the power to promote our well-being. Goldin & Gross (2010) assess the impact of Mindfulness-based stress reduction to reduce the overall symptoms of stress, anxiety as well as depression. Goldin & Gross (2010) was an experimental study in which patients went through emotion-regulation-breath focus attention and distracted focused attention regarding their negative self-beliefs. Post-study results suggested that patients showed decreased negative emotional experiences while at the same time showing improvements in the symptoms of anxiety, depression as well as self-esteem.  (Goldin & Gross, 2010)

Brown & Ryan (2003) argued that dispositional as well as state mindfulness can actually predict self-regulated behavior and support in the overall well-being of the individuals. This study further outlined that clinical intervention in cancer patients can actually decrease mood swings as well as stress.  (Brown & Ryan, 2003)

A study by Vøllestad, Sivertsen & Nielsen (2011) focused on the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on patients having heterogeneous anxiety disorders. Patients who participated in the studies showed large improvements in measures of anxiety and symptoms of depression. Further experiments also confirmed that mindfulness fully mediated the changes in acute anxiety symptoms among patients. (Vøllestad, Sivertsen, & Nielsen, 2011)

This proposed research study therefore will aim at further broadening the understanding of the effects of mindful-based reduction on anxiety disorders. More specifically, this research study will focus on the impact of such practices on the younger population i.e... people aged between 20 years and 30 years of age group.

The population for this study will be based on a young individual falling into the age bracket of 20-30 years. For the purpose of this study, however, a sample of 15 individuals will be drawn from the identified population.

The independent variable will be mindful stress reduction whereas the dependent variable will be our sample of individuals falling in the age group of 20-30 years having any type of anxiety disorder. Psychological constructs of interest for our select group of samples may include variables such as the behavior or reaction of persons under study towards their friends, parents, colleagues, etc.

The overall factorial design of the study will be based upon between the group the design methodology. The population will be divided into two groups i.e. control group and the other n-control group. The first group will be put through mindfulness stress reduction approaches and the second group which will also be clinically diagnosed as having depression and anxiety will not be put through the same treatment. The control group will go through different mindfulness treatments such as meditation and other stress reduction approaches generally adopted in clinical studies.

Assignment of samples will be based upon randomly selected individuals as sample selection will be based upon drawing every third sample for our control group whereas the rest will be assigned to a group not receiving any treatment but is considered to have symptoms of clinical depression. However, despite the random selection of samples, if differences arise in the attributes of the samples, and the Researcher will further reduce the criteria for sample selection.