The Perceived Effectiveness of Mindfulness Practice in Enhancing Memory Function in Veterans

In recent years, mindfulness practice has become more prevalent in treatment methods for mental health issues, and it is an underlying component in many existing therapies. Quantitative studies have been accomplished on the benefits of mindfulness practice in various population groups to include Veterans, but there is a lack of understanding of the perceived effectiveness of mindfulness practice on memory function in Veterans. Therefore, perceived effectiveness of mindfulness practice in enhancing memory function in Veterans was examined in this qualitative study. Ten Veterans, 18 years of age or older participated in a digitally guided mindfulness application over the course of five days, following which participants reported in a questionnaire their perceived experience to include changes in memory function and quality of life. The questionnaire involved broad and open-ended questions that generated descriptive responses to evoke thoughts and feelings, capturing the essence of the experience. Thematic analysis of shared experience of mindfulness practice amongst Veterans revealed some individuals indicated an improvement in memory function, many indicated an improvement in quality of life, and many expressed motivation to continue with mindfulness practice and acknowledged the benefits of utilizing an electronic application for a short duration. The results of this study will be used to inform practitioners of effective treatments for individuals that are having difficulty with focusing and memory recall due to stress or other related situations in life to improve memory recall and overall quality of life. Practitioners can also arm individuals with preventative tools for building mental stamina and developing positive coping capabilities before stressful situations occur.