Exploring the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students: A single case research design

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students. Participants in the study were doctoral students between the ages of 18 and 65 and were enrolled in doctoral programs within the United States. A single-case research design was conducted to explore changes in participant’s use of mindfulness skills and levels of resilience and self-efficacy (N=8) over a 9-week period. Quantitative analyses were performed to explore changes in participants’ levels of resilience, measured by the Brief Resilience Scale and self-efficacy, measured by the General Self-efficacy scale. Additionally, participants' uses of mindfulness skills were measured using the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory. Analysis of data using the single-case research design showed that 6 weeks of mindfulness-based interventions was effective for enhancing levels of resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students and increasing use of mindfulness skills. Treatment effects ranging from small to large were reported. Quantitative results included statistically significant improvements in participants who completed the study. Results of this study supported the assumption that mindfulness-based interventions are helpful in enhancing levels of resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students, while increasing the overall use of mindfulness skills. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.