Mindfulness in the Development of the Cognitive Sphere: Evaluation of the Short-Term Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Program

Dyakov D.G.
PhD in Psychology, Director the Institute of Psychology, Belarusian State Pedagogical University Named After Maxim Tank, Minsk, Belarus
e-mail: dg_dkv@mail.ru

Slonova A.I.
MA in Psychology, Researcher in Psychological Sciences, Psychologist of Socio-psychological and pedagogical service, State institution of education «Olshansky secondary school № 1», Brest, Belarus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9744-0894
e-mail: alyona_slonova@mail.ru

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Online translation in english

The aim of the article is to analyze the effectiveness of Mindfulness technology for the development of cognitive functions. Hypothesis — Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has an impact on the development of the cognitive processes of the subject in youth, with the most pronounced effect being observed in the increasing accuracy of attention. The authors carried out a formative experiment that was designed to determine the short-term effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, as a part of the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The research sample consisted of 30 people (8 boys and 22 girls) aged 18 to 22 years. It was empirically found out that MBCT had a positive effect on the accuracy and efficiency of attention, as well as short-term memory. Repeated testing of the participants’ cognitive abilities revealed a significant improvement in these parameters. The results extend the idea of the organization of cognitive functions and allow a new approach to the problem of the development of cognitive abilities.

Keywords: mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, cognitive processes, attention, memory, youth

Column: Empirical Researches

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2019270103

For Reference

Dyakov D.G., Slonova A.I. Mindfulness in the Development of the Cognitive Sphere: Evaluation of the Short-Term Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Program [Elektronnyi resurs]. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2019. Vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 30–47. doi:10.17759/cpp.2019270103. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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