Interests
As a clinical psychologist and mind-body therapist I am passionate about investigating how mindfulness, self-compassion and spirituality can reduce stress and promote mental health and well-being. Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, my colleagues and I introduced the concept of caring for bliss and developed the Caring for Bliss Scale (CBS). Caring for bliss is defined as the cultivation of inner joy or genuine happiness based on a peaceful state of mind and a compassionate heart. Through my research I aim to better understand the associations between contemplative practices and positive health outcomes as well as their practical implications to help people to become more resilient and live a healthier and happy life.
Education
- M.S. Clinical Psychology, University of Fribourg
- Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Basel
Publications and Other Scholarly Activities
Rudaz, M., Fincham, F. D., & Ledermann, T. (2023). Presence of meaning in life mediates the effects of gratitude and caring for bliss on flourishing in college students: A three-wave longitudinal study. The Journal of Positive Psychology. doi:10.1080/17439760.2023.2282776
Rudaz, M., Ledermann, T., & Fincham, F. D. (2023). Initial development and validation of a brief scale to measure genuine happiness in the USA. Journal of Religion and Health, 62(3), 2163-2180. doi:10.1007/s10943-022-01659-6
Rudaz, M., Ledermann, T., & Fincham, F. D. (2023). Caring for bliss moderates the association between mindfulness, self-compassion, and well-being in college-attending emerging adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(3), 411-419. doi:10.1080/17439760.2022.2036795
Rudaz, M., Ledermann, T., May, R. W., & Fincham, F. D. (2020). A brief scale to measure caring for bliss: Conceptualization, initial development, and validation. Mindfulness, 11, 615-626. doi:10.1007/s12671-019-01267-8
Rudaz, M., Ledermann, T., & Grzywacz, J. G. (2019). The influence of daily spiritual experiences and gender on subjective well-being over time in cancer survivors. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 41(2), 159-171. doi:10.1177/0084672419839800
Rudaz, M., Twohig, M. P., Ong, C. W., & Levin, M. E. (2017). Mindfulness and acceptance-based trainings for fostering self-care and reducing stress in mental health professionals: A systematic review. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(4), 380-390. doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.10.001
Rudaz, M., Craske, M. G., Becker, E. S., Ledermann, T., & Margraf, J. (2010). Health anxiety and fear of fear in panic disorder and agoraphobia vs. social phobia: A prospective longitudinal study. Depression and Anxiety, 27(4), 404-411. doi:10.1002/da.20645
Accomplishments
- Teaching Excellence Award, University of Bern (2019).
- Licensed Psychotherapist (Switzerland).
- Certified Mind-Body Therapist (Germany) and Yoga Trainer (U.S.).
- Practicum in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
- Fellowship for prospective researchers from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Research Projects
Media
Scales