Mindfulness and Chronic Pain: Investigating Neural, Cognitive, and Physiological Mechanisms and Barriers to Practice

Chronic pain affects one in five Australians, often reducing wellbeing and quality of life. This thesis explored how mindfulness—an attention- and acceptance-based intervention—may help manage chronic pain. The research found that mindfulness influences brain activity, attention, and the body’s stress response, and that these changes may alter how pain is processed and perceived. However, benefits may take time to develop, and many people do not complete existing programs. These insights highlight possible mechanisms through which mindfulness can support pain regulation and may help improve the design and delivery of mindfulness programs for people living with chronic pain