Introduction

For the purposes of this study, I am interested in exploring a theory that explains the barriers to mindfulness-based stress-reduction practice for mothers in Nelson, British Columbia. What are the mothers’ self-perceived internal barriers? What are the external barriers?

According to Davis, Lau and Cairns, (2009), over the past three decades, mindfulness based therapies have been studied and shown to be effective in reducing suffering among a broad spectrum, from physical to mental illnesses. However, mindfulness research is still in its infancy (Shapiro, Carlson, Astin, & Freedman, 2006, cited in Davis, Lau, & Cairns, 2009).

One of the discrepancies in the research to date is an inconsistent definition of what is mindfulness. According to Lau, Bishop, Segal, Buis, Anderson, Carlson, Shapiro, Carmody, Abbey and Devins, (2009) mindfulness can be broadly defined as “a non-elaborative, non-judgmental, present-centered awareness in which each thought, feeling or sensation that arises in the attentional field is acknowledged and accepted as it is (Kabat-Zinn, 1990; Shapiro & Shwartz, 1999; Segal, et al, 2002)”. Langer (1989, cited in Carson, Shih, & Langer, 2001) uses a definition of mindfulness that is in contrast to a “mindless” approach. For the purposes of this research, I will use the definition provided in Lau, et al (2009) though Langer (1989, as cited in Carson, Shih, & Langer, 2001) provides additional depth to the subject.

Many groups have made use of mindfulness. Mindfulness is being used in at least 240 programs, according to Salmon, Santorelli, and Kabat-Zinn, (1998, cited in Lau, et al, 2009). It has also been shown to be useful as an intervention for stress reduction, (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) acceptance (Baer, 2003), increased cognitive flexibility (Moore & Malinowski 2003) and fostering emotional well-being (Weinstein, Brown, & Ryan, 2009). Each of these areas is important for mothers to attend to.

Using Psych Info, the published literature was searched for studies on motherhood and mindfulness; and barriers to mindfulness. Studies, such as by Singh, Lancioni, Winton, Fisher, Wahler, McAleavey, Singh, and Sabaawi, (2006) discuss using mindfulness as a parenting technique to improve childrens’ behavior. However, mothers as a population face stresses such as mother blaming (Jackson & Mannix, 2004), facing the idealized mother image (Johnston & Swanson, 2003; Shelton & Johnson, 2006), and balancing roles (Mercer, 2004). Studies are needed that address mothers as individuals. In other words, as Featherstone (1999, p. 43) notes, “it is important for children’s well-being that mothers are subjects in their own right and that mothers should not be looked at just in terms of how they impact upon children.”

Vettese, Toneatto, Stea, Nguyen, and Wang, (2009) studied whether it matters if mindfulness meditation participants do their home practice, and if they do it at all. Their study touches on the barriers to mindfulness practice. Participants vary in their ability to practice mindfulness after learning the methods. Mothers, as a subgroup of mindfulness participants, may find their own barriers to practicing mindfulness after having learned the techniques. I was not able to find a study discussing this population and the difficulties it may encounter in practicing mindfulness.

Were mothers to be free of barriers to mindfulness practice, this population of our society would be potentially able to access a lifestyle freer from stress, (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) with more acceptance (Baer, 2003), increased cognitive flexibility (Moore & Malinowski 2003) and greater emotional well-being (Weinstein, Brown, & Ryan, 2009). This, in turn, would benefit society at large, as this group is not only raising the next generation (with fathers, of course) but also attempting to be productive members of society.

Theory

Barriers to mindfulness practice is an area of research that lends itself to a qualitative study. Grounded theory will be used to assimilate the interviews into an emerging theory which helps to discover the barriers mothers perceive or face to practicing mindfulness. Data from interviews with mothers who have undergone mindfulness training, and who wish to practice but do not practice, will be collected and analyzed to form a theory of what barriers exist to mindfulness practice.

Purpose Statement

The intent of this qualitative study will be to use interviews with a cross section of mothers from Nelson, British Columbia to derive a theory that explores the barriers these women face to practicing mindfulness. At this stage in the research, barriers to mindfulness will be generally defined as both internal mechanisms which inhibit a state of mindfulness in the mothers, and external controls which make practicing mindfulness difficult.

References

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Demick, J. (2000). Toward a mindful psychological science: Theory and application. Journal of Social Issues, 56(1) 141-159.

Featherstone, B. (1999). Taking mothering seriously: The implications for child protection. Child and Family Social Work,4 43 – 53.

Jackson, D., Mannix, J. (2004). Giving voice to the burden of blame: A feminist study of mothers’ experiences of mother blaming. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 10 150 – 158.

Johnston, D. D., Swanson, D. H. (2003). Invisible mothers: A content analysis of motherhood ideologies and myths in magazines. Sex Roles, 49(1 /2) 21-33.

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Sheldon, N., Johnson, S. (2006). ‘I think motherhood for me was a bit like a double-edged sword’: The narratives of older mothers. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 16, 316–330.

Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G.E., Wnton, A. S. W., Fisher, B. C., Wahler, R. G., McAleavey,K., Singh, J., & Sabaawi, M., (2006). Mindful parenting decreases aggression, noncompliance, and self-injury in children with autism. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 14 (3) 169 – 177.

Vettese, C. L., Toneatto, T., Stea, J. N., Nguyen, L., Wang, J. J. (2009). Do mindfulness meditation participants do their homework? And does it make a difference? A review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 23(3) 198 – 225.