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Racial and Gender Differences in Mindfulness, Engaged Living, and Psychological Inflexibility Within a Hawai'i-Based
Lisa Nakamura1,2, Samuel D Spencer1,3, Duckhyun Jo1,4
1Department of Psychology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2530 Dole Street, Sakamaki C400, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
This study found small, non-clinically meaningful differences in mindfulness, engaged living, and psychological inflexibility between racial and gender groups in a Hawai
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Prior research established psychometric properties of mindfulness, engaged living, and psychological inflexibility measures in a Hawai'i college sample.
- This study extends previous work by examining group differences within that same sample.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial and gender group differences in mindfulness, engaged living, and psychological inflexibility.
- To build upon existing psychometric data within a specific cultural context.
Main Methods:
- A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data from a Hawai'i-based four-year public university.
- Participants (N=1068) were categorized into Asian American, White American, and All Others racial groups, with gender also recorded.
- Anonymous online surveys with self-report measures were utilized.
Main Results:
- Asian American students reported lower mindfulness scores (observing, describing, non-judging) compared to White American students.
- White American students reported higher life fulfillment and lower psychological inflexibility than Asian American and All Others groups.
- Men generally scored higher on mindfulness facets, while women reported greater psychological inflexibility; however, differences were small and not clinically significant.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest subtle, statistically significant, yet clinically minor, differences in psychological constructs across racial and gender groups in this Hawai'i sample.
- The study highlights the need for culturally-tailored research and encourages further investigation into these nuanced group differences.
- Methodological and psychometric decisions were adapted for the specific Hawai'i-based sample.
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