”Med hjälp av mindfulness kan du leva totalt, vara total” : Religionspsykologiska perspektiv på coping och psykisk hälsa inom mindfulness

The use of mindfulness in healthcare is increasing in Sweden. A so-called secular form of mindfulness is also increasing within mediated contemporary psychology and is used in many areas such as schools, workplaces and when giving birth. The method originates from Buddhism and is much more complex than the form of mindfulness marketed in Sweden today. The religious heritage of mindfulness is interesting to study in such a secular society as Sweden, where the material for this study is found. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate whether mindfulness still is a form of religious coping or if it has become completely secularized, and thus free of its religious origin. This is done in a qualitative manner by examining three experiences of mindfulness described in the following books and blogs: How I overcame my trauma and PTSD (2013) by Philippe Izmailov, Mindfulness – En väg att hantera smärta (2008) by Vidyamala Burch and the blog article Därför tränar jag mindfulness (2013-05-20) by Jonas Ask. The research questions in this study are: What importance does mindfulness have for the individuals mental health based on religious and psychological coping theory? and Can mindfulness be interpreted as a form of coping which includes religiousness? The methods used are narrative analysis and hermeneutic interpretation and the theory is religious and psychological coping theory. The results show that mindfulness has an immense importance in providing psychological health for these individuals. All three have changed their significance and improved relationships, breath and stress reactions amongst others. The results also highlight that religious coping is dependent on definition of terms such as religion and sacred. This suggests that the question whether mindfulness can be considered to be coping that includes religiousness is a matter of interpretation. More studies on the religious and existential dimensions of mindfulness are therefore needed as well as definitions of religion and sacred adapted to a religious understanding that does not entirely rely on traditional terms and a western understanding.