improvement
over time than
adults in the
mindfulness
meditation group.
The findings
suggest that for
some, cognitive
therapies may
be more fitting,
while others may
gain more from
meditation, or
a combination
of mindfulness
principles and
cognitive therapy.
MORE MIND-
FULNESS, LESS
LONELINESS
Half of US adults
report feel-
ing lonely and
isolated. Accord-
ing to a new
study, mindful-
ness could help.
A study at the
University of
Pittsburgh asked
153 self-identified
stressed people
to try a 14-lesson
smartphone-
based training to
curb loneliness
and social isola-
tion. About one-
third practiced
acceptance and
paying attention
to thoughts, feel-
ings, and behav-
iors, both core
aspects of mind-
fulness. The rest
received either
attention training
or learned tools
for coping with
stress. Research-
ers used smart-
phones instead of
in-person work
to see if learning
new skills would
boost social con-
tact and reduce
loneliness. After
two weeks, the
acceptance and
attention group
participants had
roughly two
more social con-tacts per day, and
were 22% less
lonely. The other
groups showed
little change.
Researchers con-
cluded that hav-
ing an attitude of
acceptance and
paying attention
to our experi-
ence can increase
social connec-
tion and reduce
loneliness.BREATH AWARE-
NESS MAY
IMPROVE BRAIN
EFFICIENCY
Breath awareness
training may help
keep us sharp
into old age. In a
study conducted
by researchers
at the University
of Granada, the
University of Liv-
erpool, and Liver-
pool John Moores
University, 21
healthy adults
received four
hours of mindful-
ness instruction
and were asked to
practice mindful
breath aware-
ness daily for
10 minutes per
day over three
weeks. Readings
of brain activa-
tion during their
performance on
computer tests
found them to
be less impulsive
and better able
to effectively and
accurately solve
complex prob-
lems compared
to adults with no
meditation expe-
rience. The more
they meditated,
the better their
results.Having an attitude of
acceptance and paying
attention to our experience
can increase social connec-
tion and reduce loneliness
August 2019 mindful 13top of mind