Exploring Awareness and Resistance to Nonattachment in Relation to Mental Health. A Qualitative Study in a UK-Based Yoga Community Lindsay TREMBLAY& William VAN GORDON EJMH Vol 18, 0011 (2023) 1-16; https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.18.2023.0011 Received: 22 March 2023; Accepted: 24 August 2023; Online: 25 September 2023 Section: Research Papers
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Abstract
Introduction: Nonattachment is a flexible and balanced way of relating to experiences that involves accepting or allowing, instead of clinging to, expectations or outcomes. Advancing the understanding of how people relate to nonattachment is important because of the associated mental health benefits.
Aims: To qualitatively explore awareness of, and resistance to, nonattachment in a UK-based yoga community.
Methods: A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted based on transcripts of ten semi-structured interviews.
Results: Findings indicated a general lack of consensus in understanding nonattachment, with explanatory themes of (i) resistance related to external forces conflicting with internal knowing, (ii) bracing for impact, and (iii) difficulty navigating how to embrace nonattachment. However, despite the participants’ apparent implicit negativity towards nonattachment, they acknowledged its benefits for accommodating change.
Conclusions: These findings have important implications for the wider adoption and application of nonattachment in applied settings.
Keywords
nonattachment; surrender; reflexive thematic analysis; mental health
Corresponding author
Lindsay TREMBLAY
School of Psychology, University of Derby, United Kingdom
l.tremblay1@unimail.derby.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0166-2451
Co-authors
William VAN GORDON
School of Psychology, University of Derby, United Kingdom
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5648-3043
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.