Unit:
Department of PsychologyLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Author:
Christopoulou Efthymia
Dissertation committee:
Βασίλης Παυλόπουλος, Αναπλ. Καθηγητής (επόπτης), Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Φιλία Ίσαρη, Αναπλ. Καθηγήτρια (μέλος Τριμελούς Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής), Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Άννα Χριστοπούλου, Αναπλ. Καθηγήτρια (μέλος Τριμελούς Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής), Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Αικατερίνη Γκαρή, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Αντωνία Παπαστυλιανού, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεράσιμος Προδρομίτης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο
Χρυσή Χατζηχρήστου, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Κοινωνική Αναπαράσταση, Διαστάσεις, Διεργασίες και Αποτελέσματα του Διαλογισμού στην Ψυχική Υγεία και Ευεξία: Διαπολιτισμική Προσέγγιση
Translated title:
Social Representation, Dimensions, Processes, and Impact of Meditation on Mental Health and Subjective Well-being: Cross-Cultural Approach
Summary:
Abstract
The present thesis examined the social representation, the dimensions, the processes and the impact of meditation. The theoretical background combined current models of Social, Cross-Cultural and Clinical Psychology. A mixed methodology was adopted combining qualitative and quantitative research through an exploratory sequential design. Initially, a qualitative study was conducted to investigate the social representations of meditation among Greek and Indian participants. The themes that emerged from the thematic analysis were: the meaning of meditation, the relationship of meditation with yoga, religion and spirituality, the teacher of meditation, the impact and mechanisms of meditation, its target audience and use. Very few cross-cultural differences were found and circumscribed to the type of transcendental approach to meditation in relationship with the relevant objective. A quantitative study followed, in order to examine the impact of frequency, duration and regularity of meditation practice in relevance to mindfulness, transcendence and psychological well-being. Overall, the findings highlight the role of meditation, especially with regards to a more intense engagement with its practice. It was found that meditation experience is related to higher levels of mindfulness and it is connected with all of the aspects of mindfulness, i.e., higher levels of observing, describing and acting with awareness, and lower levels of non-judging and non-reactivity. In the structural equation models tested, psychological well-being was predicted by meditation practice through the mediating role of mindfulness and transcendence. In the first case, mindfulness mediated the path from meditation experience to transcendence and psychological well-being. In the second case, transcendence mediated the path from meditation experience to mindfulness and psychological well-being. Transcendence emerged as a catalyst for the meditation experience for the promotion of mindfulness and psychological well-being. To conclude, the present thesis contributes to the international research on meditation and mindfulness and inaugurates this research field in the Greek academic community.
Main subject category:
Philosophy - Psychology
Keywords:
Meditation, mindfulness, transcendence, psychological well-being
Number of references:
525
