Reexamining the Association Between Facets of Mindfulness and Cognitive Performance

Abstract

Interventions that utilize mindfulness assume that higher dispositional mindfulness is associated with greater cognitive functioning. However, few studies have specifically examined the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive performance. Evidence indicates that domains of mindfulness are related to specific cognitive functions independently; however, these data have not been replicated. The aim of the study was to reexamine the association between facets of mindfulness and cognitive abilities: perception and cognitive flexibility. Participants (N = 192) completed the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire and computerized tasks of perceptual skill and cognitive flexibility. Results indicate that the nonreactivity component, but not the observing, as hypothesized, was related to perception. In contrast, none of the facets of mindfulness demonstrated a significant relationship with performance on a task of cognitive flexibility. The results suggest that the relationship between cognitive processes and facets of mindfulness may not be as clear as previously suggested.