Chronic pain affects about 20% of U.S. adults, and non-addictive treatments like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are increasingly important. A key challenge is keeping people engaged in home practice over time. Researchers interviewed 10 MBSR facilitators about using a voice interface (smart speaker) to support home practice. Facilitators supported the idea, especially for people with limited motor function, and noted that voice interfaces offer a sense of social presence that may help sustain engagement. The findings demonstrate that trained mindfulness facilitators find a voice interface acceptable for supporting home MBSR practice, leading to design recommendations for technologies that provide long-term support for mindfulness interventions.
School-based mindfulness programs vary widely in their content, which makes comparing their outcomes difficult. An analysis of twelve written curricula found that all included individual practices, especially body awareness, but only eight included relational practices like kindness or compassion. Programs based on MBSR emphasized awareness of mental states, and longer programs included more interpersonal skills and lessons on focused attention and empathy. Notably, what students learned about mindfulness did not always match what they practiced, suggesting knowledge can be taught without active skill-building. This mapping of curricular ingredients helps clarify which components drive specific outcomes, refine theories of change, and improve teacher preparation.