Mindfulness for Boosting Single East Asians’ Quality of Life: A narrative review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: In Asian cultures that emphasize collectivism and Confucianism, being single often brings about social pressure and diminished self-worth, which negatively affects quality of life. Mindfulness, originating from Buddhist traditions familiar within these societies, may offer a culturally appropriate form of support.
Content: This narrative literature review integrates existing research on the mechanisms of mindfulness with the specific challenges faced by single individuals in East Asian cultural contexts. Four hypothetical pathways are proposed through which mindfulness may enhance the quality of life of single East Asians: emotional regulation, self-acceptance, social connectedness, and meaning-making. Additionally, the adaptation of mindfulness programs targeting single East Asian adults is discussed.
Conclusion: This article proposes four mechanisms through which mindfulness may enhance the quality of life of single East Asians. Empirical validation and the development of culturally tailored programs are necessary for future research and practice.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความหลังผ่านการปรับแก้จากกองบรรณาธิการแล้ว เป็นลิขสิทธ์ของวารสารจิตเวชวิทยาสาร โรงพยาบาลสวนปรุง กรมสุขภาพจิต กระทรวงสาธารณสุข ห้ามเผยแพร่เพื่อประโยชน์ทางการค้าโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต แต่อนุญาตให้เผยแพร่บทความดังกล่าวเพื่อประโยชน์ทางการศึกษาแก่ประชาชนทั่วไป ทั้งนี้กองบรรณาธิการไม่จำเป็นต้องเห็นด้วยกับบทความหรือข้อคิดเห็นใดๆ ที่ปรากฏในวารสารสวนปรุง
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