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Differences between meditators and non-meditators in mindfulness, its components and related qualities

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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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Contributions

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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Correspondence to Lakshmi Haranath Somaraju.

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Ethics approval was granted by the University of New England, Australia (approval number: HE 18-040).

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Participants were provided with information about the study and then required to indicate consent prior to participating.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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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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