Mindfulness and integrative self-knowledge: Relationships with health-related variables

The Electronic Pain Management Life History Calendar: Development and Usability

BACKGROUND

Changes over time to self-managed chronic pain treatments are not a routine part of pain management discussions and might provide insight into adjustments that improve pain outcomes.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an electronic pain management life history calendar (ePMLHC) for use with older adults with chronic pain.

DESIGN

An instrument development design was used to develop and test the ePMLHC.

METHODS

Twenty-four community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis pain completed the ePMLHC describing their pain treatment regimens and treatment response history. Accuracy of the ePMLHC data was examined through post-ePMLHC audiorecorded interviews, with the older adults describing their pain treatment history. Feedback on use of the ePMLHC was also measured. An iterative process was used to refine and retest the ePMLHC. The final ePMLHC version was examined with the remaining 12 older adults.

RESULTS

Significant differences between data reported via the ePMLHC and interviews did not support feasibility of independently reported data via the ePMLHC. Older adults reported that completing the ePMLHC helped them more fully self-reflect on their pain self-management.

CONCLUSIONS

The ePMLHC has the potential to enhance communication about past pain management treatments and promote more personalized pain treatment regimens, but further development is required.

Measuring the Effects of Self-Awareness: Construction of the Self-Awareness Outcomes Questionnaire

Dispositional self-awareness is conceptualized in several different ways, including insight, reflection, rumination and mindfulness, with the latter in particular attracting extensive attention in recent research. While self-awareness is generally associated with positive psychological well-being, these different conceptualizations are also each associated with a range of unique outcomes. This two part, mixed methods study aimed to advance understanding of dispositional self-awareness by developing a questionnaire to measure its outcomes. In Study 1, expert focus groups categorized and extended an initial pool of potential items from previous research. In Study 2, these items were reduced to a 38 item self-report questionnaire with four factors representing three beneficial outcomes (reflective self-development, acceptance and proactivity) and one negative outcome (costs). Regression of these outcomes against self-awareness measures revealed that self-reflection and insight predicted beneficial outcomes, rumination predicted reduced benefits and increased costs, and mindfulness predicted both increased proactivity and costs. These studies help to refine the self-awareness concept by identifying the unique outcomes associated with the concepts of self-reflection, insight, reflection, rumination and mindfulness. It can be used in future studies to evaluate and develop awareness-raising techniques to maximize self-awareness benefits while minimizing related costs.

A longitudinal, mixed method evaluation of self-awareness training in the workplace

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to investigate whether self-awareness, which is associated with general well-being and positive life outcomes, is also of specific benefit in the workplace. The authors tested the relationship between self-awareness and job-related well-being, and evaluated two different interventions designed to improve dispositional self-awareness at work.

Design/methodology/approach

– Full-time employees took part in these training interventions and completed questionnaires using a switching-replications design. Questionnaires measured dispositional self-attentiveness (reflection and rumination) and job well-being (satisfaction, enthusiasm and contentment) at three time points over a period of six weeks. Statistical analyses were complemented with qualitative analysis of reported impacts.

Findings

– Self-awareness was positively associated with job-related well-being and was improved by training. Employees reported gaining a greater appreciation of diversity, improved communication with colleagues and increased confidence.

Research limitations/implications

– Sample size limited the extent to which the relatively weak relationships between the concepts could be identified.

Practical implications

– Self-awareness is demonstrated to be of value at work, associated with higher well-being and improvements in several positive occupational outcomes. The self-awareness training is more likely to result in active work-based improvements than in reflective changes.

Originality/value

– Dispositional self-awareness is shown to be subject to change through training. The study demonstrates the value of self-awareness at work and identifies a range of related work outcomes.