Dispositional Mindfulness Co-varies with Self-Reported Positive Reappraisal

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Mindfulness Studies

Background:

• Traditional Western views often see mindfulness as non-discursive.
• Emerging research links mindfulness to cognitive coping strategies like positive reappraisal.
• Mindfulness practice may foster positive reappraisal capacities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and self-reported positive reappraisal.
• To investigate this association across diverse demographic and clinical samples.
• To determine if mindfulness uniquely predicts positive reappraisal, controlling for other factors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Data collected from five distinct samples: general adults, contemplative practitioners, college students, chronic pain outpatients, and alcohol-dependent inpatients (N=819).
• Statistical analyses including correlational and multiple regression (controlling for well-being, positive affect, and refocusing).

Main Results:

• Dispositional mindfulness was positively associated with self-reported positive reappraisal in all five samples.
• A significant positive relationship was observed in the aggregated analysis (N=819).
• Mindfulness remained a unique predictor of positive reappraisal after controlling for psychological well-being, positive affect, and positive refocusing.

Conclusions:

• Dispositional mindfulness is significantly and positively related to positive reappraisal across diverse populations.
• Mindfulness uniquely contributes to positive reappraisal, independent of other related psychological constructs.
• Findings support the integration of mindfulness into interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive reappraisal skills.