Mindfulness-Based Programs: Why, When, and How to Adapt?

This paper provides a framework for understanding why, when and how to adapt mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) to specific populations and contexts, based on research that developed and adapted multiple MBPs. In doing so, we hope to support teachers, researchers and innovators who are considering adapting an MBP to ensure that changes made are necessary, acceptable, effective, cost-effective, and implementable. Specific questions for reflection are provided such as (1) Why is an adaptation needed? (2) Does the theoretical premise underpinning mainstream MBPs extend to the population you are considering? (3) Do the benefits of the proposed adaptation outweigh the time and costs involved to all in research and implementation? (4) Is there already an evidenced-based approach to address this issue in the population or context? Fundamental knowledge that is important for the adaptation team to have includes the following: (1) essential ingredients of MBPs, (2) etiology of the target health outcome, (3) existing interventions that work for the health outcome, population, and context, (4) delivery systems and settings, and (5) culture, values, and communication patterns of the target population. A series of steps to follow for adaptations is provided, as are case examples. Adapting MBPs happens not only by researchers, but also by MBP teachers and developers, who endeavor to best serve the populations and contexts they work within. We hope that these recommendations for best practice provide a practical framework for skilfully understanding why, when, and how to adapt MBPs; and that this careful approach to adaptation maximizes MBP safety and efficacy.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2022.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Loucks is the director of the Mindfulness Center at Brown University. The Mindfulness Center, a non-profit entity, has an Education Unit that provides mindfulness-based program delivery to the general public for fees. Dr. Loucks’s salary is not tied to quantity or content of programs offered through the Mindfulness Center. Rebecca Crane receives royalties from books on mindfulness Judson Brewer owns stock in, and serves as a paid consultant for Sharecare Inc. the company that owns the Eat Right Now and Unwinding Anxiety apps mentioned in this manuscript. This financial interest has been disclosed to and is being managed by Brown University, in accordance with its Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment policies. Willem Kuyken is the director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. Since arriving in Oxford (2014) he has received no payments for training workshops, presentations or consultation work related to his MBCT work and donates any such payments to the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation, a charitable trust that supports the work of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. He was until 2015 an unpaid Director of the Mindfulness Network Community Interest Company. He receives royalties for several books on mindfulness published by Guilford Press. He has advised and consulted various groups (e.g., evidence to UK NHS committees, the UK Mindfulness All Party Parliamentary Group). Other authors report no conflicts of interest. Funding: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Institute of Aging and Mount Sinai Health System.