The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Interventions on the Bereaved

Abstract: Losing a loved one can lead to bereavement grief. It is often accompanied by anxiety, profound sadness, sleep disturbance and lingering depression. Prolonged grief can affect the ability to function properly, through overall reduction in cognitive function. Being able to find effective interventions early on in the grieving process for the bereaved is essential in preventing disorders associated with prolonged sorrow. Mindfulness research has shown that it can improve well-being and a variety of conditions such as stress, anxiety, worry, depression and disturbed sleep. But the research into mindfulness as a potential grief intervention is relatively new and lacking. The aim of this study is to see if the research and literature on the subject can tell us about mindfulness interventions and their benefit to those experiencing bereavement: in particular, the loss of a family member. Four studies were included, making this a more explorative research. In all studies, grief-related psychological conditions as well as grief-levels decreased after the mindfulness intervention, such as depression symptoms, trauma symptoms, anxiety, and any difficulties in emotion regulation.Those with elevated depression or traumatic bereavement seem to experience a larger change in all eviated symptoms after the mindfulness intervention. The findings indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy helped with the ability to emotionally regulate as well as decreasing spontaneous mind-wandering during resting-state. It also seemed to enhance cognitive control and working memory.