1 - (SYM 5) Adapting the Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) Program for Bereavement Care

Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions can alleviate symptoms of prolonged grief. This study focuses on adapting the locally developed and evidence-supported Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) for bereavement-related distress. MIED adopts a transdiagnostic approach, and its core strategies align closely with the Dual Process Model of coping with bereavement: mindful engagement with the present moment supports restoration-oriented coping, whereas allowing painful emotions, seeing thoughts as thoughts, and gradually reducing excessive emotion-driven behaviors facilitate more adaptive loss-oriented coping.

The aim of this research is to co-adapt MIED with bereaved individuals and examine its effectiveness. Study 1A involved an online survey completed by 53 adults who had experienced bereavement within the past three years and previously participated in MIED. Participants rated its effectiveness in reducing bereavement-related distress at 7.28/10 and its recommendation likelihood at 8.02/10. Study 1B consisted of qualitative interviews (n=10), revealing that participants perceived MIED practices as helpful for reducing rumination, enhancing present-moment awareness, accepting grief, and re-engaging with life. They recommended incorporating bereavement-specific examples and elements of death education into the program. Building on these findings, Study 2 is currently recruiting 24–30 bereaved adults with elevated symptoms of prolonged grief to participate in the adapted MIED program. The study aims to examine its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness in reducing bereavement-related distress.