Mindfulness training and practice: Individual differences in mindfulness facets and its relation to emotional regulation, perceived stress and well-being

Abstract

Several studies suggested a positive relation between mindfulness and psychological health positive outcomes. But are still lacking studies that can relate facets of mindfulness with specific psychological health dimensions. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relation between the mindfulness facets (non-reactivity to inner experience, noticing sensations, perceptions, thoughts and feelings, acting with awareness, describing with words, non-judging of experience) and some specific psychological health dimensions such as emotion regulation (non-acceptance, goals, impulse, awareness, strategies and clarity), perceived stress and well-being. We will analyze these dimensions according to participant’s mindfulness training and practice. We used validated self-reporting instruments: the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ, Baer et al., 2006), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS, Gratz Roemer, 2004), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS, Cohen, Kamarck Mermelstein, 1983) and the IWP Multi-affect Indicator (IWP, Warr, 1990). We evaluated 258 individuals who agreed to participate in this study, of which 72,1% were women, 47,7% had already attended mindfulness training, 52,3% never had and 40,3% practice mindfulness meditation regularly. We performed a Pearson’s r correlation and T-Tests to compare means. Results point to clear correlations between mindfulness facets, emotion regulation, stress and well-being. Perceived stress revealed significantly lower levels in individuals who attended mindfulness training and practice daily meditation. Higher scores in mindfulness facets and related higher levels of awareness, clarity and well-being can also be found. The findings indicate that mindfulness training and regular mindfulness meditation practice have a potential to contribute to improving mental health outcomes.