Single vs. Group Mindfulness Meditation: Effects on Personality, Religiousness/Spirituality, and Mindfulness Skills

Multiple lines of evidence show that mindfulness meditation (MM) improves practitioners’ mental health. To date, most studies have tested the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), which typically combine the practice of mindfulness with in-class psychoeducation and discussions between teacher and practitioners. However, much less is known about the effects of MM practiced in individual settings. The present research investigated the impact of MM in individual (i.e., single) and group settings by testing mindfulness skills, personality profiles, religious/spiritual self-representation, and adherence to the training program, in relation to two groups of healthy adult practitioners. Findings showed that both groups of participants improved in all outcome measures (mindfulness skills, character maturity, and religiousness/spirituality) with no between-group differences, except for a more pronounced effect on the character maturity of those in an individual MM setting, during the 8-week individual and group MM trainings. Moreover, participants to individual and group MM settings meditated at home for a comparable amount of time and dropped out from their training at similar rates. The results suggest that MBI may have potential benefits both when performed in group settings and in individual settings, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness practice for personal growth and healing.