Τεύχος 14 (1) 2022 – Article (first published on 22 August 2020)
Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) in healthcare: A qualitative case study of practices in the UK and South Korea
Mi Hyang Hwang & Leslie Bunt
ABSTRACT
Relaxation Music (RM), Mindfulness Meditation (MM) and Relaxation Techniques (RTs) are widely used in healthcare contexts and these interventions have been investigated for integrated healthcare, psychotherapy treatment and collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches. However, the information exchange between healthcare practitioners in the UK and South Korea has so far been limited and cross-cultural comparisons of RM, MM and RTs within the healthcare context of the UK and Korea have previously been unexplored. The aim of this paper is to present a summary of the key aspects from an unpublished PhD study (Hwang, 2018). The focus of this paper is to explore the similarities and differences in understanding the use of RM, MM and RTs between practitioners in the UK and Korea. A qualitative case study methodology was used and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six Korean and six UK healthcare practitioners in three professional areas: medical practice, meditation, and music therapy. Similarities (in outlooks and purposes, methods, interests and concerns, responses and approaches) and differences (in historical and traditional influences, behavioural patterns and particular emphases) were identified. The value of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary research is increasingly recognised and the use of RM, MM and RTs as mind-body-spirit interventions are considered to be useful integrated treatments. This paper contributes to cross-cultural qualitative research between South Korea and the UK and integrating theory and practice with respect to RM, MM and RTs.
KEYWORDS
relaxation music, mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, healthcare, UK, South Korea, cross-cultural research
AUTHORS BIOGRAPHIES
Mi hyang Hwang (Grace Hwang) completed her PhD at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. She has been an academic supervisor for the Music Therapy Team at UWE since 2017 and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UWE Bristol. Her overarching research goals are: to explore the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Music (MBM) programme for the mental health and wellness of university students and staff; to develop a new programme of work to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff and to contribute to a mental health framework for universities. Mi hyang is currently an Advanced Level III GIM trainee with primary trainer Leslie Bunt. [Grace.hwang@uwe.ac.uk] Leslie Bunt is Professor in Music Therapy, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol. He was Director of Studies for Grace Hwang’s PhD and currently acts as project manager for her post-doctoral research. [Leslie.Bunt @uwe.ac.uk]