Integrating Mindfulness and Character Strengths for Improved Well-Being, Stress, and Relationships: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice

Abstract

The integration of mindfulness and character strengths is an emerging area of research and practice. The evidence-based, 8-week program, Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) represents a unique approach in that the starting point and focus is on what is best in human beings – their character strengths. These qualities are then leveraged to improve one’s meditation practice or area of mindful living (referred to as “strong mindfulness”) and in turn, mindfulness is used as a lens for deepening awareness and use of strengths (referred to as “mindful strengths use”). While early controlled studies find MBSP to elicit well-being and reduce stress, and find it to be superior to popular mindfulness programs for different outcomes, we are not aware of any published qualitative analyses examining the MBSP participant’s experience. This study offers insights from a large international sample and extends the empirical data on MBSP, including the novel finding of benefit for building positive relationships, as well as confirming other findings such as the most common obstacles people confront in mindfulness practices. Additional areas discussed using qualitative and quantitative findings include the most beneficial mindfulness/character strengths practices, the use of inward and outward-oriented practices, cognizance of the integration of mindfulness and character strengths, and self-reported positive outcomes, including substantial benefits to stress and problem management and boosts to meaning, purpose, engagement, accomplishment, and sense of self.

The Silver Lining of Posttraumatic Growth around the Dark Side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A School-Based Intervention with Mindfulness and Character Strengths Practices among Children

“…In relation to the five PTG subscale dimensions, the intervention participants experienced greater improvements in "Relating to others" and "New possibilities". The improvement in relationships is in line with the existing literature among adults that underlines the effectiveness of the combination of mindfulness and character strengths practices in valuing relationships [35]. According to this study [35], individuals who participated in a MBSP were more patient in their interactions with others or able to better understand others.…”

“…The improvement in relationships is in line with the existing literature among adults that underlines the effectiveness of the combination of mindfulness and character strengths practices in valuing relationships [35]. According to this study [35], individuals who participated in a MBSP were more patient in their interactions with others or able to better understand others. The high scores for the dimension of "New possibilities" are a substantial finding, indicating that the emphasis through MBSP activities on future goals and plans enabled the participants to develop new interests or a new life path and a willingness to change things that need change and helped them recognise new opportunities through the COVID-19 adversity.…”

“…Mindfulness can cultivate certain character strengths and improve their balanced use [20,32], whereas the use of certain character strengths can improve mindfulness [30,33]. Studies in which these two practices are combined have revealed significantly increased well-being among adolescents [34] and adults [30] and less stress [35].…”

Mental health and character strengths: the dual role of boosting well-being and reducing suffering

“…The integration of mindfulness and character strengths has been popular among mental health practitioners and the addition of an evidenced-based, manualized program called mindfulness-based strengths practice (MBSP, Niemiec, 2014) is showing superior results in multiple studies when compared with the most popular mindfulness programs (Monzani et al , 2021) among nonclinical populations. Systemic reviews of MBSP (Prasath et al , 2021) and mixed methods studies of MBSP (Whelan-Berry and Niemiec, 2021) show consistently beneficial results for well-being and adversity, yet the clinical studies using MBSP have not yet been published at the time of this writing.…”

Efficacy of a School-Based Mental Health Intervention Based on Mindfulness and Character Strengths Use Among Adolescents: a Pilot Study of Think Happy-Be Happy Intervention

“…A program integrating mindfulness and character strengths use has already been developed for adults and is referred to as the mindfulness-based strengths practice (MBSP) (Niemiec, 2014). This eight-session mindfulness-based strengths program has been proven to have the potential to increase well-being, flourishing, life satisfaction, engagement and decrease perceived stress in an adult sample (Ivtzan et al, 2016;Pang & Ruch, 2019;Whelan-Berry & Niemiec, 2021) and an undergraduate sample (Wingert et al, 2020). However, evidence that this program can be effective in adolescent samples is lacking.…”