Abstract
Objectives
The study investigated (1) if meditators and non-meditators differ in their levels of mindfulness, attention, acceptance, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy; and (2) whether and how mindfulness practice affected the above qualities.
Methods
The 241 participants (18–81 years, M = 40.3, SD = 14.8; 64% female) completed an online questionnaire consisting of scales measuring mindfulness components (mindful attention, acceptance, non-judging), and mindfulness related qualities, including loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy. The participants who reported being meditators (N = 122; 50.4%) were also asked questions about their meditation practice.
Results
Meditators differed significantly from non-meditators in relation to their levels of mindful attention (t(239) = 4.80, p < .001, d = .63) and empathy (t(239) = 2.80, p < .01, d = .37) but not for the other mindfulness components or related qualities. Multiple regression analyses indicated that practice variables (years of practice, frequency of practice, and length of session) explained a significant proportion of variance in mindful attention (R2 = .27, p < .001) and empathy (R2 = .15, p < .05).
Conclusions
The present findings are consistent with conceptualizations of mindfulness that focus on the centrality of mindful attention over acceptance and non-judging components, which is consistent with several Buddhist mindfulness traditions. Present findings also demonstrate the importance of practice for the cultivation of mindful attention. Future studies are required to increase our understanding of effects relating to the type of mindfulness undertaken and the influence of practice factors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to that Dr. Bernadine Cocks for her assistance with the editing of the final draft of this article.
Funding
Lakshmi Haranath Somaraju is supported by a ‘Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship’ funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government.
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Lakshmi Haranath Somaraju (PhD student) completed the majority of work required for this article, including data analysis, initial drafting of the article, and subsequent revisions. Lewis Bizo and Elizabeth Temple (supervisors) provided guidance on data analysis and interpretation of findings, and contributed to the writing of this article and its revision.
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Somaraju, L.H., Bizo, L.A., Temple, E.C. et al. Differences between meditators and non-meditators in mindfulness, its components and related qualities. Curr Psychol 42, 4923–4935 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01530-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01530-z