Abstract
In this study we examined whether differences in the habitual use of mindfulness skills were associated with specific well-being and neuroticism aspects. Two hundred eleven volunteers aged 21–84 years completed measures of mindfulness, neuroticism, psychological well-being (PWB), and subjective well-being (SWB). Describing, observing, and acting with awareness (i.e., the mindfulness “what” skills) were positively correlated with personal growth, purpose in life, and autonomy (i.e., the “core” eudaimonic components of PWB). Nonreactivity and nonjudging (i.e., the mindfulness “how” skills) were negatively associated with neuroticism aspects, such as withdrawal (e.g., depression) and volatility (e.g., anger). Describing and nonreactivity were the only mindfulness skills significantly correlated with the SWB measures. Acting with awareness mediated the effect of both withdrawal and volatility on eudaimonic well-being outcomes. Describing had consistent mediation effects across all well-being measures, but only for the withdrawal aspect. Nonreactivity and nonjudging did not mediated withdrawal when considering eudaimonic well-being as outcomes. Mediation effects for nonjudging and nonreactivity were found between volatility and SWB markers as well as between volatility and self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and positive relations with others (i.e., the “other” eudaimonic PWB components). In sum, the mindfulness “what” skills were important for eudaimonic well-being, especially for internalizing individuals. Authors discuss the usefulness of a facet-level analysis of mindfulness for examining incremental validity of some facets over others in accounting for different well-being outcomes measures. Clinical implications are also discussed.
Highlights
Is mindfulness related to well-being and neuroticism? A growing body of studies indicates that the answer is overall positive
No previous study has examined these relationships based on a facet-level analysis for both mindfulness and neuroticism with psychological well-being (PWB) and subjective wellbeing (SWB)
Our findings provided additional primary evidence suggesting that mindfulness was more strongly associated with the Bcore^ eudaimonic components of PWB than with the Bother^ eudaimonic components
Summary
Is mindfulness related to well-being and neuroticism? A growing body of studies indicates that the answer is overall positive. Is mindfulness related to well-being and neuroticism? Research has considered the relationships of mindfulness with neuroticism and well-being based on total scores or broad trait measures. A recent trend has started looking at these relationships using either mindfulness facets with broad neuroticism, or mindfulness total score with neuroticism facets, or mindfulness facets with psychological well-being (PWB) total score. A facet-level analysis for all three constructs might shed light on unique relationships that tend to get overlooked otherwise. The mindfulness facets might be considered as intervening variables in the robust empirical association between neuroticism and well-being. The link between neuroticism and well-being has been clearly established in recent years (Steel et al 2008). Neuroticism is not changeable and its mean level remains stable over 40 years of age (Roberts et al 2006)
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