An integrative body-mind-spirit intervention program for enhancing holistic well-being of young people in emerging adulthood

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to foster a higher level of holistic well-being among young people of emerging adulthood. Specifically, an intervention program was implemented to enhance equanimity and reduce emotional afflictions of the participants.

Design: A repeated measures design was adopted to compare the holistic well-being of program participants with that of nonparticipating members of a comparison group.

Materials and Methods: Participants (N = 42, aged 18-25) were final year students who studied for their higher diploma or associate degree in a tertiary institute. The intervention program was a 2-day workshop with 2 sessions (morning and afternoon) scheduled on each day. Three 2-day workshops were organized, with 12 to 15 students participated in each workshop. Group activities of the workshop involved bodily exercises, meditation, relaxation, singing, drawing, letter writing, sharing of experience, etc. These activities which followed the body-mind-spirit approach, aimed at cultivating mindful awareness, discovering inner strength, promoting a sense of love, care, and forgiveness, and preparing participants to deal with negative encounters. Program effectiveness was evaluated by a holistic well-being inventory. Scores of the participants on the inventory were compared with another group of final year students (N = 50) who did not participate in the workshop.

Results: Significant enhancements in various dimensions of well-being of the participants were demonstrated. Specifically, nonattachment, general vitality, mindful awareness, and spiritual self-care increased significantly; whereas emotional vulnerability, bodily irritability, and spiritual disorientation decreased significantly after participation in the 2-day workshop.

Conclusion: Small group intervention program based on an integrative body-mind-spirit model was effective in promoting holistic well-being among normal individuals of emerging adulthood.