Seizing Opportunities Moment by Moment: The Effects of an 8-Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course on Personal Epistemological Beliefs and Implications for Academic Program Administration

Authors

Carrie J. Boden-McGill
Mazen Homound

Abstract

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses that teach individuals to “live in the present moment” have been shown to improve health and well-being; however, there seems to be very little research into how MBSR may affect the way we think about the nature of knowledge, also known as epistemology. The researchers developed this study in an effort to determine if MBSR techniques would have an impact on personal epistemological beliefs and the implications for academic program administration. Though this study is currently a pilot study, early results seem to indicate a statistically significant change in the area of “Quick Learning.” This suggests that MBSR practices may play a role in allowing an individual to let go of more primitive and superficial forms of knowledge in favor of more sophisticated ones. Based on these results, it is possible that the use of MBSR practices will be beneficial to students and faculty alike.

Recommended Citation

Boden-McGill, Carrie J. and Homound, Mazen (2012) "Seizing Opportunities Moment by Moment: The Effects of an 8-Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course on Personal Epistemological Beliefs and Implications for Academic Program Administration," Administrative Issues Journal: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 12.
Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/aij/vol2/iss3/12