Relaxation, meditation and mindfulness program applied to NGO volunteers: A case study.

Abstract

The aim of this research is to describe the application of a program based on Relaxation, Meditation and Mindfulness in volunteers and staff hired by two Spanish nongovernmental organizations. The sample consisted of 13 participants volunteering or participating in two NGOs in Barcelona. A quantitative approach with a single - case or quasi - experimental design was used. Three scales were applied before and after the intervention, to observe the changes produced. The instruments used were Five facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale -21. The results obtained showed that, after the program’s application, the values of Stress, Anxiety and Depression were reduced, also reducing the total factor of Psychological Distress. Likewise, the levels of mindfulness and self-compassion increased, promoting the use of self-care tools in the participants. The importance of these results is discussed based on previous studies.