Interim Report (Introduction section to Dissertation) - Essay Example

The Role of Mindfulness, Personality and Negative Effect in Relation to Substance use Summary The primary motive of this research is to explicate on the role of mindfulness, personality and negative effect in relation to substance use. The different levels of mindfulness, personality traits, anxiety levels and depression will be studied in respondents who are prone to additive behavior. This study endeavors to propose measures to curb addictive behavior. As such, the forces propelling this behavior must be investigated. The study was conducted in Kingston University. As such, the appropriate respondents were the students of Kingston University. Aside from this motive, insight is sought about the link between mindfulness, personality domains, negative affect and addictive behavior. This is if a relationship does indeed exist. The mindfulness of the present moment experience is steadily gaining interest and thus significant research is being dedicated to its comprehension. More specifically, interest is on the link between the mood, smoking, personality and drinking patterns of the students of Kingston University. In this endeavor, the literature review will based on five highly evidence based research articles. With the aid of these articles, this research will be able to guarantee its objectivity. Introduction Problem statement The context of addiction is a subject that offers significant intrigues to the study of human behavior. Psychologists are interested in the nature of addiction that is presented by smoking and drinking excessively. This study I dedicated towards the establishment of the role of mindfulness in this addictive behavior. This, however, is just the first problem this study is endeavors to solve. The second problem is to expound on the role of personality traits and level of distress as predictors of addictive behavior. In this context, the role of these two factors in affecting the mindfulness of an individual in relation to predicting risk of addiction has also garnered interest in the study of human behavior. Without understanding the complex relationship of these factors on addiction, it would futile to attempt to effectively understand and subsequently address addictive behavior in relation to smoking and drinking. This study endeavors to investigate the characteristics of those individuals who are most prone to suffer from addiction. The study also endeavors to investigate if there is a link between mindfulness, personality domains, negative affect and addiction. The rationale about the link between these concepts has been largely theoretical. This research aims to validate or disapprove these concepts. Hypothesis The study has identified four hypotheses that govern its mission: the intention is to accept the null hypothesis. 1. H0: There is a positive relationship between the levels of mindfulness and substance abuse. H1: There is no positive relationship between levels of mindfulness and substance abuse. 2. H0: There are some personality traits that are associated with mindfulness, specifically openness and neuroticism. H1: there are no personality traits that are associated with mindfulness. 3. H0: There is a link between personality domains, such as neuroticism, and negative effect. H1: there is n link between personality domains and negative effect. 4. H0: Proneness to addictive behaviors, such as smoking and excessive drinking, is associated with controlling for negative affect and the relevant personality domains and mindfulness. H1: controlling for negative affect and the relevant personality domains and mindfulness has no association with proneness to addictive behavior. Literature review Thomas, C. (2011) A Review of the Relationships between Mindfulness, Stress, Coping styles and Substance Use among University Students. Edith Cowan University. This article was purposed to analyze the effect of mindfulness meditation and mindfulness based programs in reducing stress and levels of anxiety, improve self-regulation and coping strategies and or reduce the need for substance abuse. The major drawback of this study is its lack of first hand data. It relies only on secondary data by critically analyzing the works of other researchers. It, thus, does not contribute to the existing body of knowledge. However, aside from this drawback, its approach to critic gives vital insight on the relevance of the outlined studies in the study of psychology. The findings of the study have been generalized for the topic of concern. Another drawback of the study is its focus solely on university students. On one hand, it is in line with the respondents of the actual study of this dissertation. This is thus the principal rationale for its inclusion in the study. However, like the study, it can only be relevant when put in context to university students. The study expounds significantly o the causal relationship between mindfulness, anxiety and stress. Additionally, it recommends an effective procedure that can be employed it the treatment of a number of psychological ailments. This procedure is known as the MBSR program. This article gives evidence of the fact that the program has been peer reviewed and attested to its effectiveness. The article concludes that reperceiving is an essential component in mindfulness and is subsequently responsible for the possible outcomes that may be observed in the study of mindfulness behavior. Additionally, mindfulness exerts its transformational influence via self-regulation, clarification of values, cognitive and behavioral flexibility, exposure and general acceptance and relaxation. As such, it provides influential insight in answering the research questions propagated by this study. However, the author does not give the drawbacks of any of the studies he analyses. As such, the bias within these studies cannot be ascertained. In all, the author expounds on each concept with applaud-able insight. LePera, N., (2011) Relationship between boredom proneness, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and substance use. The new school psychology bulletin, vol. 8, No. 2.  The article mainly focuses on the concept and impact of boredom in determining cognitive behavior. Additionally, it examines the causal link between boredom and negative outcomes. It employs the use of certain instruments in measuring the levels of boredom in individuals. Its conclusion was that those individuals who scored higher in these boredom measuring instruments had a higher probability in engaging in socially negative activities. it subsequently proposes the cultivation of attentiveness if the propensity to experience boredom is to be reduced. The study notes that is primary limitation was sourced from its lack of using a standardized measure of boredom. It opted to use an affect questionnaire instead of the more favorable and reliable instruments of boredom scale. The study had 138 oarticpants, out of which 103 were females, 33 were male and interestingly 2 chose not to respond to their gender query. The respondents ranged from 22 years of age to 70 years of age. As such, the findings of this study are able to be effectively utilized across a significant rage of age. Additionally, the researchers sought participants across the racial divide. Though a majority of the respondents were white (76.1 %), there also were Hispanics/Latinos (9%), African Americans (5.8%), Asian or pacific Islander (5.8%), multiracial (6.5%) while others were 5.1%. Thus, aside from considering the range of ages of their participants, the researchers also took into consideration the racial affiliations of their respondents. This then renders their findings valid and reliable across a wide range of subjects. However, its major limitation is the instrument of choice for data collection. There is no mention of data validation measures that were taken. As such, the figures presented by the research may be characterized by bias. The article continues to cite that its data must be considered relevant owing to its similarities with previous research. This should not be justification for using data that may potentially contain significant bias. Merenakk, L., Harro, M., Kiive, E (2003) Association between substance use, personality traits, and platelet MAO activity in preadolescents and adolescents. Addictive Behaviours 28, 1507-1514 This study endeavors to investigate the relationship between alcohol/illicit drug abuse, personality traits, aggressiveness, platelet monoamine oxidase activity and hyperactivity in preadolescents and adolescents. In regards to personality traits, the mothers of the respondents answered the questionnaire. The levels of aggressiveness and hyperactivity of the respondents were answered by their respective teachers. The core rationale of the study is that there exists a causal relationship between personality and temperament with the propensity to alcoholism. The study continues to note that these factors do not only affect propensity to alcoholism, rather they also affect propensity to other forms of drug abuse. The study sampled twenty five schools from which one thousand one hundred and seventy two respondents were sourced. The participation rate is noted to be seventy six percent. The rate and extent of usage of alcohol, smoking and other illicit drugs were reported by the children. The study notes its limitation as being the use of cross-sectional methodology which cannot essentially confirm a causal link between substance abuse and the respective personality traits. However, the study fails to note its lack of use of the Pearson correlation coefficient. Adopting this correlation measuring instrument, guarantees that the level of correlation that has been arrived at is correct. Rather than use this instrument, the study points on the correlation levels that have been arrived at in the absence of the appropriate methodology applied. This is a major flaw on the part of the researchers. Though their findings are in line with the empirical findings of previously conducted research, the failure to highlight measuring instruments or software used significantly impedes on its quality. Kashdan, T.B., Vetter, C.J., Collins R.L (2005) Substance use in young adults: Associations with personality and gender. Addictive Behaviours 30, 259-269 The purpose of the study was to explicate on the role of negative affectivity and conscientiousness in the use of legal and illegal substances in college aged social drinkers. It subsequently concluded that there is a relationship between personalities, gender differences and substance abuse. Additionally, it also concluded that a significant number of young adults and adolescents who engage in experimenting with alcohol and smoking do not advance to the use of illegal drugs. The study sampled four hundred and twenty one individuals between the ages of eighteen and twenty. Out of these two hundred and twenty two women were women (52.7%) and one hundred and ninety nine (47.3%) were men. The average age was noted to be nineteen. However, the findings of the research are not supported by numerical conclusions. Additionally, the researchers do not expound on the limitations of their findings. As such, this is a source of bias. The structure of a quality research article must include a limitations section. Therefore, the absence of such a section impedes on the quality of this study. Additionally, the instruments of analysis that were utilized in the study are not mentioned. As such, the findings cannot be ascertained with significant confidence levels. There is no mention of measures that were put in place to ensure ethics of the study were maintained. In the absence of these measures, it is arguable that the researchers did not observe ethics in their sampling methods, data collection and data analysis. This is a major flaw in this study. Black, D.S (2012) Mindfulness and substance use intervention. Substance Use & Misuse, 47: 199-201.  The study primarily focuses on how cultivation of conscious awareness influences the functioning of mind and body. It offers insight on the benefits of mindfulness training. Meditation training enables the mind in getting stronger. The momentum of mindfulness is propelled by engaging in meditation practices. The study notes the conclusion of a thirty year research. The study notes that meditation practices have significant positive benefits to both body and mind. Most of these benefits have clinical backgrounds. Despite the relevance of the information provided by this article, it does not conform to the conventional structure of a research article. It adopts the structure of a simple essay. It additionally does not explicate on the limitations of the sighted research articles. The researchers depend wholly on the data of these sighted research articles. It would have been more effective if primary data would have been included in the study. There is no conclusive conclusion adopted by the article. Irrespective of these drawbacks, the article effectively expounds on the benefits of meditation on mindfulness behavior. Walton, K.E., Roberts, B.W. (2004) On the relationship between substance use and personality traits: Abstainers are not maladjusted. Journal of Research in Personality 38, Issue 6, 515-535 This study focuses primarily on the causal relationship between substance abuse and personality. Two study tests were thus conducted. The first study employed the use of one hundred and eighteen respondents. The second study employed the use of one hundred and seventy two respondents. A third source from self reports was five hundred and forty five. The study adopts the hypothesis that abstainers are over-controlled and thus maladjusted. It concludes that moderate users, unlike heavy users and abstainers, are able to fit easily with others. Limitations The findings of this research can only guarantee its effectiveness when placed in context of individuals aged between eighteen (18) to thirty (30) years of age. References Black, D.S., 2012. Mindfulness and substance use intervention. Substance Use & Misuse, 47: 199-201.  Kashdan, T.B., Vetter, C.J., Collins R.L., 2005. Substance use in young adults: Associations with personality and gender. Addictive Behaviours 30, 259-269 Merenakk, L., Harro, M., Kiive, E., 2003. Association between substance use, personality traits, and platelet MAO activity in preadolescents and adolescents. Addictive Behaviours 28, 1507-1514 LePera, N., 2011. Relationship between boredom proneness, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and substance use. The new school psychology bulletin, vol. 8, No. 2.  Thomas, C., 2011. A Review of the Relationships between Mindfulness, Stress, Coping styles and Substance Use among University Students. Edith Cowan University. Walton, K.E., Roberts, B.W., 2004. On the relationship between substance use and personality traits: Abstainers are not maladjusted. Journal of Research in Personality 38, Issue 6, 515-535 Read More