The De-automatizing Function of Mindfulness Facets: an Empirical Test

Abstract

Building upon the theoretical model of de-automatization, according to which the de-automatizing effect of mindfulness on cognitive processes has desirable health and social outcomes, we hypothesized that (1) dispositional mindfulness facets would be related to higher well-being (higher life satisfaction, lower perceived stress), and positive social outcomes (greater perspective taking, lower use of stereotypes); (2) these effects would be mediated by lower rumination, higher cognitive flexibility, higher decentering, and lower thought suppression, identified as de-automatization mediators. We tested this mediational model with SEM, in a large sample (N = 1153). Results supported the hypothesized model more for individual than for social outcomes. Cognitive flexibility, decentering, and to a smaller extent suppression mediated the relationships between mindfulness facets and the two well-being outcomes, while rumination was a mediator only in the model for perceived stress. Acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity had mixed relationships with perspective taking: positive via cognitive flexibility, negative via rumination; rumination instead conveyed a positive association between observing and perspective taking. Cognitive flexibility also mediated the positive relationships between observing and describing and perspective taking. Acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity were negatively related to stereotyping only via reduced suppression. Effects sizes (standardized indirect effects) were small to medium (from 0.02 to 0.20 in absolute value). The association between dispositional mindfulness and mental health indicators may be partially explained by a reduction in maladaptive automatized cognitive processes, while only some features of de-automatization positively relate to social outcomes.