Joey Weber

Despite the plethora of mindfulness research, it has been suggested that equanimity has been largely ignored. Current research has sought to add greater precision to this construct. The objectives of this systematic literature review were (1) to identify whether equanimity is being recognized as a key facet in mindfulness-based interventions and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of equanimity as a construct in psychiatric health. The data sources were ProQuest Central and SCOPUS. A systematic literature review was conducted of peer-reviewed research articles published between 2010 and 2018. Nine studies identified equanimity as a key facet in mindfulness interventions in relation to mental health interventions. The review found that there is limited standardized inclusion of equanimity and poor reliability and generalizability surrounding this construct. Furthermore, there are no explicit instruments for measuring equanimity. More research is needed in mental health intervention to develop clarity over the impact of equanimity on well-being and psychiatric health. Further, psychometric measures for the construct are limited. The wide variety of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) raises the question of how explicitly equanimity is communicated. There is also a general lack of understanding and clarity regarding its operational definition. Often, equanimity can be synonymous with the terms nonjudgment or decentering. This systematic literature review aimed to address these gaps in the literature.

Recently, the science behind mindfulness meditation has increasingly turned towards how and why its practice can result in such varying change. Whether it is with attention, awareness or structural brain change, research has moved more towards deconstructing mindfulness’s psychological attributes. This research investigates and identifies equanimity as one of the key facets of mindfulness therapeutic care.
Therefore, the studies within this thesis were motivated by the lack of comprehensive empirical research into the construct of equanimity within Mindfulness-Based Interventions [MBIs]. Often MBIs implicitly cover equanimity; however, there are no specific psychometric scales that measure equanimity or barriers to equanimity and no primary operational definition in Western science. This restricts scientific research and understanding into the psychologically therapeutic elements of mindfulness practice. Examining the non-judgmental aspect of mindfulness further, the thesis proposes an operational definition of inner and outer equanimity, a ‘model of judgement’ and ‘naturally occurring ignorance’ before validating the first scale to measure barriers to equanimity, henceforth known as the Equanimity Barriers Scale [EBS]. Mindfulness research must be able to differentiate attention, awareness and non-judgemental facets encompassed under the umbrella of mindfulness, in order to achieve clarity over its psychological beneficence and aid further advancement in the field. The proposed model of judgement and EBS was validated by 4 separate studies. The first Principal Component Analysis (n=453) utilised in order to explore underlying factors associated with barriers to equanimity. The second study refined the factors via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n=108) and the third study (n=302) tested convergent and discriminant validity of the scale. The final study (n=327) tested differences between groups in relation to the EBS with age, anxiety, depression and mental wellbeing. The findings demonstrate how a person with fewer barriers to equanimity is more likely to be able to emotionally regulate, have greater self-compassion, mindfulness and mental wellbeing, whereas a person who has higher barriers to equanimity has greater risk of anxiety, depression and difficulties in emotional regulation. The development of a new model and first-ever scale to measure barriers to equanimity extends the body of knowledge of the existing literature and research related to mindfulness, and more specifically, to the adoption of equanimity within person-centred therapy, clinical psychology and general health and wellbeing. The thesis therefore provides both theoretical and practical contributions to knowledge. This is critical given the current state of mental health in the world as individuals face unique challenges in relation to their own distinctive patterns of experience and individual differences on a psychological and social level. Understanding barriers to equanimity enables individuals to strengthen mindfulness practice and continue advancement in wellbeing with openness, acceptance and less discrimination. Therefore, the proposed thesis serves as a platform for a closer insight into personal navigation of an often-polarised world.

This is the fourth article in a series of articles that explores the meaning of positive psychology and the importance of applying the latest related research findings for the wellbeing of the mental health workforce. It will focus on mindfulness as a positive psychology intervention from its development to present day use and how it is relevant to mental health nursing. Finally, it will emphasise the importance of effective leadership in how the application of mindfulness can benefit the individual, the organisation and the client. The practical tasks provided in the boxes throughout the article will help the reader identify what mindfulness means for them and understand how to further develop its transferability through evidence-based, user-friendly exercises.

Whilst mindfulness as a practice is now well researched, little is known about the associated concept of equanimity or the barriers people face in achieving it. Three studies were conducted to develop and validate a self-report measure assessing barriers to equanimity. Across studies, opportunity samples comprised students and staff members from one British university, and via online social media platforms. In study 1 (n=453) principal component analysis revealed five internally consistent factors measuring the ways in which barriers to equanimity are conceptualised. Study 2, (n=108) sought to confirm these factors. Results revealed that a fourfactor model best fit the data. Validity statistics were sufficient to support this model. Study 3 (n=302) tested convergent and discriminant validity of the four-factor Equanimity Barriers Scale (EBS). It was tested utilising the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (Brown & Ryan, 2003), Big Five Inventory-10 (Rammstedt & John, 2007), Self Compassion Scale Short Form (Raes, Pommier, Neff & Van Gucht 2011), Difficulty in Emotional Regulation Scale Short Form (Kaufman, Xia, Fosco, Yaptangco, Skidmore & Crowell 2015) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003). The usefulness of the EBS for future research into individual differences in adherence to mindfulness-based interventions are discussed.

In order to appreciate mindfulness, it is necessary to focus on the concepts of non-judgement and acceptance as these attributes underpins the practice. Non-judgement is a label celebrated within a variety of helping professions and as a value at the core of much practice. In the context of mindfulness based interventions, accepting thoughts non-judgementally is an essential skill. However, the author argues against the ability of individuals to be non-judgemental given the profundity of its meaning and without other skills in place (without the practice of equanimity). The author puts forward a conceptual model of judgement and ‘naturally occurring ignorance’ in order to explore the potential barriers to practice. The author hypothesises that equanimity is the key mediating factor in being non-judgmental and therefore having the ability to generate compassion. A conceptual ‘cycle of judgement’ was created and discussed. Further, a theoretical model of ‘naturally occurring ignorance’ was created in order to confirm the barriers to equanimity, with the motivation of cultivating compassion.

Mindfulness is an adaptable state of consciousness that has been shown to be effective in the reduction of maladaptive cognitive schemas as well as in raising feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. Cultivating a mindfulness habit is seen to be fortuitous; however the research in this paper looked at the efficacy of a short intervention on improving the cognitive domains of self-esteem, mindful attention awareness, and general anxiety disorder. The study was conducted within a university setting with both students and support staff. An introduction to mindfulness was facilitated over a 90-minute session. Measures were completed by all participants pre- and post-intervention. The results show that there was a significant effect of a mindfulness session on the self-reporting of self-esteem, mindful attention awareness and general anxiety disorder.