Effects of insight dialogue retreats on mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological well-being

Objectives Insight dialogue (ID) is a formal practice of dialogic meditation that brings into relationship practices deriving from Buddhist psychology that are typically limited to individual practice. The purpose of the current study was to examine the psychological effects of an ID intervention in promoting adults’ mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological well-being. Our hypotheses were that individuals taking part in an ID retreat would experience an increase in mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological well-being. Methods Participants (n = 100; Mage = 55.69; SD = 11.54) recruited from five ID retreats conducted across North America completed a battery of questionnaires including the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Scales of Psychological Well-Being. Data were collected before and after each ID retreat. Results Significant effects of the ID practice from pre-retreat to post-retreat on mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological well-being were found, evidencing the benefits of this innovative interpersonal practice which brings the qualities typically cultivated in silent individual practice of mindfulness to the relationship. Conclusions This study provided initial evidence that ID retreats may increase mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological well-being.