Effects of a Mortality Salience Exercise during Mindfulness-Based Self-Practice/Self-Reflection on Physical and Mental Well-Being among Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Trainees

Thomas Mösler¹, Sandra Poppek¹, Christoph Leonhard^{1, 2,} and Wilfried Collet¹

¹Institut für Verhaltenstherapie, Verhaltensmedizin und Sexuologie, Nuremberg/Fuerth, Germany

²The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Cite this paper:
Thomas Mösler, Sandra Poppek, Christoph Leonhard and Wilfried Collet. Effects of a Mortality Salience Exercise during Mindfulness-Based Self-Practice/Self-Reflection on Physical and Mental Well-Being among Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Trainees. American Journal of Applied Psychology. 2022; 10(1):13-19. doi: 10.12691/ajap-10-1-3

Abstract

Meditations on death and dying that raise mortality salience (MS) are occasionally used during mindfulness-based Self-Practice/Self-Reflection with Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) trainees. However, Terror Management Theory studies suggest this may have adverse impacts. This study reports on the effect of a MS exercise on physical and psychological well-being in N = 211 CBT trainees. Findings show physical well-being was unaffected, but mental well-being was temporarily reduced in vulnerable participants. Adverse impact of MS exercises may be reduced if trainees have solid mindfulness skills. MS exercises may be justified if they can be shown to benefit therapists’ professional competency or personal resilience.

Keywords:
self-practice/self-reflection mortality salience terror management theory mindfulness therapist training

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