Findings & Context
Positioning, findings, and open questions presented at ICEM 2026

Co-authored with Lucrezia Bizzarri, Cristina Rossi, Alessandro Giannandrea, Maria Gabriella Buzzi, Mara D'Onofrio, and Claudia Maggiore.

For the full theoretical architecture and the Gemelli/Komen programme, see the Research page.

Qualitative patterns observed across both cycles

  • Reduced anticipatory anxiety linked to future projections

  • Increased quality of presence in the moment of care

  • Deepened relational quality between the three groups

  • Spontaneous re-evaluation of existential priorities, described as emerging rather than induced

These patterns are drawn from non-structured interviews and participant testimonies.

Research agenda

The priority is activating the data infrastructure already built — WHO-5, PHQ-4, and supplementary sleep and pre/post-excursion items on KoboToolbox — as a structured pilot in the winter 2027 cycle.

Open questions: do the four contemplative movements produce differentiated effects across the three participant groups? Does the natural setting amplify outcomes relative to an indoor equivalent? Do benefits persist and extend into participants' wider perceptual and relational world?

Key references

Galante et al. (2023) · Ingold (2011) · Kabat-Zinn (1990) · Greenberg, Pyszczynski & Solomon (1986) · Park & Pyszczynski (2019) · Porges (2011) · Chayadi et al. (2022)

Acknowledgements

Dr. Stefano Magno, Centro di Senologia, Gemelli IRCCS; Komen Italia for institutional and financial support. Delivered under clinical governance, with informed consent.