Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation, (October 10, 2017) Van Dam, et al.

[fossil]

I haven't read past the abstract, but it looks interesting.

Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation

Abstract (my bolding);

During the past two decades, mindfulness meditation has gone from being a fringe topic of scientific investigation to being an occasional replacement for psychotherapy, tool of corporate well-being, widely implemented educational practice, and “key to building more resilient soldiers.”

Yet the mindfulness movement and empirical evidence supporting it have not gone without criticism. Misinformation and poor methodology associated with past studies of mindfulness may lead public consumers to be harmed, misled, and disappointed.

Addressing such concerns, the present article discusses the difficulties of defining mindfulness, delineates the proper scope of research into mindfulness practices, and explicates crucial methodological issues for interpreting results from investigations of mindfulness.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691617709589

 

[Peter T]

It appears to be a very comprehensive review, though it was much too much information for me to process in a single reading.

 

[Barry]

Our goals are to inform interested scientists, the news media, and the public, to minimize harm, curb poor research practices, and staunch the flow of misinformation about the benefits, costs, and future prospects of mindfulness meditation.

Encouraging start.

 

[Simbindi]

It does look like an article worth reading fully, when able.

In the meantime, it's available in an Easy Read version: The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness

 

[Snowdrop]

I hope the full text really is a useful read. I have no problem with mindfulness as a personal tool to be more present in one's own experience.

But

I can also precis the current uses of mindfulness: 'There is money to be made here'.

 

[Trish]

I have no problem with mindfulness as a personal tool to be more present in one's own experience.

Me too. When I first learned about it back in the 1970's it was an interesting import from 'eastern religion' that was taken up by the hippie, alternative groups, like meditation, as life-enhancing practices, not as a 'therapy' to impose on sick people in lieu of decent health care.