The Mindful Lawyer: Investigating the Effects of Two Online Mindfulness Programs on Self-Reported Well-Being in the Legal Profession.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness meditation could improve well-being among legal professionals, who experience high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Results Summary
Study 1 showed significant improvements in mood, resilience, trait mindfulness, stress, anxiety, and depression after an 8-week mindfulness program. Study 2 found that experimental participants had better mood, lower stress, and higher non-reactivity and observing compared to waitlist participants after a 30-day intervention.
Population
Legal professionals (lawyers and other legal practitioners).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (8-week program in Study 1, 30-day intervention in Study 2).
Duration
8 weeks (Study 1), 30 days (Study 2).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness meditation | increase | well-being | legal professionals | - | could be an effective tool for improving | #1 |
8-week mindfulness program | increase | mood | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #2 |
8-week mindfulness program | increase | resilience | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #3 |
8-week mindfulness program | increase | trait mindfulness | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #4 |
8-week mindfulness program | decrease | stress | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #5 |
8-week mindfulness program | decrease | anxiety | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #6 |
8-week mindfulness program | decrease | depression | legal professionals | - | significant improvements | #7 |
30-day intervention | increase | mood | lawyers | - | better | #8 |
30-day intervention | decrease | stress | lawyers | - | lower levels | #9 |
30-day intervention | increase | non-reactivity | lawyers | - | higher levels | #10 |
30-day intervention | increase | observing | lawyers | - | higher levels | #11 |
mindfulness and meditation | increase | well-being | legal professionals | - | may effectively improve | #12 |
OBJECTIVES: Two studies were conducted to determine whether mindfulness meditation could be an effective tool for improving well-being among legal professionals-a population plagued by high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. METHODS: Study 1. Legal professionals completed questionnaires before and after an 8-week mindfulness program. Study 2. Lawyers were randomly assigned to either an experimental or waitlist condition. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the study and after experimental participants had completed a 30-day intervention. RESULTS: Study 1. Participants reported significant improvements in mood, resilience, trait mindfulness, stress, anxiety, and depression over time. Study 2. Post-intervention, experimental participants reported better mood, lower levels of stress, and higher levels of non-reactivity and observing than waitlist participants. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness and meditation may effectively improve well-being among legal professionals.