Chachignon Philippine, Le Barbenchon Emmanuelle, Dantzer Cécile, Dany Lionel
LPS, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Université de Bordeaux, LabPsy U.R., Bordeaux, France.
PLoS One. 2025 Sep 8;20(9):e0331021. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331021. eCollection 2025.
Mindfulness meditation (MM), originating from spiritual traditions but widely promoted as a secular and beneficial practice, is increasingly debated due to potential adverse effects, ethical concerns, and its ties with neoliberal imperatives, challenging its image as a universal remedy. Beliefs about MM strongly influence its reception, usage, and effects but remain understudied, especially in comparing meditators and non-meditators. Understanding these beliefs is key to clarifying how lay perceptions align or diverge from scientific frameworks and to grasp individuals' expectations and motivations, notably in clinical contexts. Existing research often overlooks belief content or comparisons between meditators and non-meditators.
This study explored the content of beliefs about MM, identified missing elements, and compared meditators' and non-meditators' beliefs. Associations with sociodemographic, motivational, health, and psychological variables were examined.
167 participants (105 meditators) completed an online survey producing five words linked to MM, rated for valence, plus questionnaires on motivation, beliefs, and personal characteristics.
817 free associations were collected; 65% were positive. Hierarchical classification identified five belief categories: "Body-based Relaxation," "Stereotyped Descriptions," "Psychological and Affective Well-Being," "Focus on Inner-Self," and "Experience of MM." Four categories were shared by both groups, with meditators showing more precise, experiential understanding. Beliefs varied with sociodemographic, health, and psychological factors. Core aspects in MM like attention, acceptance, health, collective dynamics and ethical concerns were largely absent. Notably, spirituality was not integrated into the beliefs about MM.
Findings emphasize MM as a self-regulatory and personal development tool shaped by social, psychological and behavioural factors. Recognizing both current and potential MM users' beliefs can improve tailoring of mindfulness interventions and encourage instructors to address ethical and adverse aspects openly, fostering more informed, responsible practice.
正念冥想（MM）起源于精神传统，但作为一种世俗且有益的练习被广泛推广，由于其潜在的不良影响、伦理问题以及与新自由主义要求的联系，正受到越来越多的争议，这对其作为一种普遍疗法的形象提出了挑战。关于正念冥想的信念强烈影响其接受度、使用情况和效果，但仍未得到充分研究，尤其是在比较冥想者和非冥想者方面。理解这些信念是阐明外行认知与科学框架如何一致或不同，以及把握个人期望和动机的关键，特别是在临床环境中。现有研究往往忽略信念内容或冥想者与非冥想者之间的比较。
本研究探讨了关于正念冥想的信念内容，确定了缺失的要素，并比较了冥想者和非冥想者的信念。研究还考察了与社会人口统计学、动机、健康和心理变量的关联。
167名参与者（105名冥想者）完成了一项在线调查，给出与正念冥想相关的五个词，并对其效价进行评分，同时填写了关于动机、信念和个人特征的问卷。
共收集到817个自由联想；65%为积极联想。层次分类确定了五个信念类别：“基于身体的放松”、“刻板描述”、“心理和情感幸福感”、“关注内心自我”和“正念冥想体验”。两组共享四个类别，冥想者表现出更精确、基于体验的理解。信念因社会人口统计学、健康和心理因素而异。正念冥想的核心方面，如注意力、接纳、健康、集体动态和伦理问题在很大程度上未被提及。值得注意的是，灵性并未融入关于正念冥想的信念中。
研究结果强调正念冥想是一种由社会、心理和行为因素塑造的自我调节和个人发展工具。认识到当前和潜在的正念冥想使用者的信念，可以改进正念干预措施的定制，并鼓励指导者公开讨论伦理和不良方面，促进更明智、负责任的实践。
