Effects of mindfulness practices on empathy and interpersonal relationships: a qualitative study among Ser-Unifesp project college students

Abstract

The college students are considered a population at risk of mental health disorders, becoming even more vulnerable in the COVID 19 pandemic. Among the interventions to promote well-being, mindfulness practices are a viable and effective alternative. However, mindfulness impacts on interpersonal relationships and empathy are little explored in the scientific literature. Considering that, social distancing has brought the need to adapt mindfulness protocols to an online structure. The present project aims to analyze, by qualitative methodology, the potential benefits of the online version of the MBRP (Mindfulness-Based Reactivities Prevention) protocol in the perception of changes in interpersonal relationships and empathy characteristics in college students from São Paulo, during the context of social distancing. Methods: two qualitative methods will be used: participant observation and collective interviews. Through social media, university students enrolled in different universities in and around São Paulo will be invited to participate in the study The MBRP protocol will be offered in 7 groups of 15 to 18 students each, with 90-minute meetings per week for 8 consecutive weeks. The participant observations will be held in all 8 meetings, being recorded in field diaries. The collective interviews will be held at the end of the intervention, recorded in audio, and later transcribed literally. The records will be submitted to content analysis, with categorization and coding, accompanied by triangulation by pairs. For the systematization of the analysis, the QSR Nvivo software will be used. (AU)