A Qualitative Investigation of the Interaction between Religion and Culture and a Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention Among Communities of Color

Abstract

Background: Mindful self-compassion (MSC) is a new subset of mindfulness-based interventions that have been implemented among parents of children with special health care needs due to its positive psychological effects and ability to increase subjective wellbeing. Parents of color whom have children with special health care needs experience additional stressors when compared to parents of typically developing children given the social, economic, and psychological demands of caring of their children. This parent group can also endure added stressors compared to non-Hispanic whites, such as experiences of racism, discrimination, and/or anti-immigrant sentiment. Study Aim: We examined how cultural and religious beliefs or practices align and interact with the delivery of MSC interventions among communities of color caring for children with special health care needs. Methods: We analyzed qualitative data collected in 2018 from participants (n=19) of the Finding Strength for the Long-Haul study. We used an inductive, constant comparison approach in which concepts were identified and themes derived from the interview data. Results: Overall, participants described alignment between MSC aspects and religion and mentioned how incorporating some MSC aspects into their religious practices enhanced their overall spiritual experiences. An unanticipated finding was shifts in religious and cultural perspectives experienced during the class. However, there were some MSC aspects and programmatic logistics that conflicted with religious and cultural beliefs and practices which negatively impacted participants experience with MSC. Conclusion: The findings of this study enriches the limited literature on the interaction between religious and cultural beliefs or practices and mindfulness-based interventions among communities of color. While MSC is known for its psychological benefits, it is important to understand the weight of religious and cultural beliefs on perception and receptivity of MSC to improve the content and the delivery of the MSC intervention.