1Institut für Verhaltenstherapie, Verhaltensmedizin und Sexuologie, Nuremberg/Fuerth, Germany
2The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
American Journal of Applied Psychology.
2022,
Vol. 10 No. 1, 13-19
DOI: 10.12691/ajap-10-1-3
Copyright © 2022 Science and Education PublishingCite this paper: Thomas Mösler, Sandra Poppek, Christoph Leonhard, 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.
Correspondence to: Christoph Leonhard, Institut für Verhaltenstherapie, Verhaltensmedizin und Sexuologie, Nuremberg/Fuerth, Germany. Email:
cleonhard@thechicagoschool.eduAbstract
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.
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