Paper Title
Mental Health Promotion: Theimpact of a Culturally Attuned Mindfulness Program on Wellbeing and Academic Performance Among Muslim College Women

Abstract
Mindfulness has grown in prominence in recent decades. Its efficacy has been an important contributor to its acceptance and proliferation. Although secularised, mindfulness-based interventions are derived from Eastern spiritual traditions, particularly Buddhism. For this reason, there is a need to explore the efficacy and acceptability of such approaches among individuals committed to theistic traditions such as Islam. This study examines the impact of a culturally adapted version of mindfulness based on bridging concepts that communicate key aspects of these interventions in a manner more culturally attuned and religiously resonant with the worldviews of Muslim clients. Muslim college women (N= 30), citizens of the United Arab Emirates, were randomly assigned to either an 8-week mindfulness program or a weighting list condition. Measures of depression, stress reactivity and academic performance were collected at time one and time two. The experimental group improved significantly (less depressive symptoms and stress reactivity). However there was no difference between the groups concerning academic performance. The results are discussed in relation to culturally attuning mindfulness and its use within educational contexts . Keywords: Mindfulness, Muslim, Depression, Culture, Academic Performance