Table 1.

Overarching themes, themes and sample quotes

Overarching themes	Themes, sub-themes and sample quotes
Attitude towards engagement	Motivation to reduce stress: “I am always keen to learn how to manage stress better”.
	Prior knowledge: “I had heard about mindfulness from colleagues, so always wanted to try it out”.
	Positive predisposition: “I feel I was already mindful before the course started, so the practice didn’t feel strange, you know”.
Intervention characteristics	Rationale Belief in the rationale of mindfulness: “The justification given about how this [mindfulness] works, kept me motivated to keep carrying on [practice]”. Lack of rationale: “Maybe a better explanation of why this [thinking about my problems] was not helpful would help, because unless I think about my problem how can I solve it!”
	Types of practice Length of practices: “Some of those [practices] were so long, I used to fall asleep” “I have noticed I am able to do the brief practice like 3-min breathing even when I am in a lot of stress”. Intensity of the intervention: “The course was too intense for me … there was too much to do so I gave up”
Change process	Becoming more mindful Decentering: “I understood my mind is only a part of me … so I can take a step back and read my own mind”. Present moment focus: “It [sitting mindfulness meditation] helped me find and anchor to the present moment … I realised the current situation is not as stressful as I felt”.
	Habitual perseveration: “It was hard to stop myself from thinking about my to-do list, so I wanted to give up”.
Perceived consequences	Perceived effects of mindfulness on mental health and well-being Improved well-being: I have noticed I am calmer now when there is stress” Emerging negative thoughts: “The thoughts you want to shut down comes to you easily during meditation. I once had to stop meditating because I didn’t want to think about it, it made me sad”.
	Change in self-compassion Increased self-compassion: “I think it is good to practice [mindfulness] because it helps you accept your flaws and its O.K [to have flaws]”. Becoming self-critical: “I felt I wasn’t motivated [to practice meditation] because I was being harsh and critical of myself all the time. I felt, this is not difficult why can’t I get it”.
	Increased sense of agency over thoughts: My mind always kept thinking … but now I can notice [my thoughts] and respond. I feel I have more control over my mind now”.