This study aimed to examine the effects of body scan meditation on depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity among alcohol-related offenders. A total of 30 inmates from ‘A’ correctional facility in Jeonbuk Province were randomly assigned to eit...
This study aimed to examine the effects of body scan meditation on depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity among alcohol-related offenders. A total of 30 inmates from ‘A’ correctional facility in Jeonbuk Province were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group, with 15 participants in each. The body scan meditation program was conducted by playing guided audio instructions developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The program consisted of six sessions over two weeks, with each session lasting 45 minutes and held three times per week.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, the study employed the Korean versions of the National Depression Scale (NDS), National Anxiety Scale (NAS), National Stress Scale (NSS), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Additionally, the Korean Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (K-MAIA) was used to verify whether the body scan meditation was accurately performed.
The results demonstrated that the experimental group participating in the body scan meditation program exhibited lower level of depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher levels of interoceptive awareness compared to the control group. In particular, the reduction in depression and stress, as well as the enhancement of interoceptive awareness, were statistically significant. Moreover, the program contributed to maintaining stable level of anxiety and impulsivity.
These findings suggest that body scan meditation can be effectively applied to reduce psychological distress and promote emotional stability among alcohol-related offenders. Furthermore, the practice holds promise as a feasible psychological intervention within the constraints of correctional environments.
Keywords : alcohol-related offenders, body scan meditation, depression, anxiety, stress, impulsivity, interoceptive awareness