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Gepubliceerd in:

03-01-2024 | Original Paper

Mindful Metacognition: Attention, Beliefs, and Skills in the Acceptance of Experiences

Auteurs: Zachary I. Wunder, Lara L. Jones

Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 12/2023

Abstract

Objectives

Mindfulness involves shifting attention to and focusing it on present experiences without judging or attempting to change them: experiential acceptance. In contrast, experiential avoidance and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) entail shifts in attention away from inner experiences (e.g., emotions) and attempts to reduce the intensity of such experiences. Across two studies, we proposed and tested mediatory models of how attentional control and metacognitive beliefs predict mindfulness skills and reduce experiential avoidance.

Method

Study 1 tested data from 79 German-speaking adults (45 males; 34 females) in the general population from an open dataset, and Study 2 examined data collected from 192 undergraduates (40 males; 152 females) at a Midwestern US university. Participants self-reported attentional control, mindfulness facets (e.g., present-moment awareness and nonjudging) and experiential avoidance beliefs, tendencies, and RNT.

Results

In Study 1, we found higher attentional control predicted higher present-moment awareness, facilitating higher nonjudging of present experiences. Via these mindfulness facets, higher attentional control indirectly predicted reduced cognitive avoidance beliefs (standardized indirect effect, SIE = −0.040; CI −0.09, −0.003). In Study 2, attentional control (shifting and focusing) predicted higher present-moment awareness and in turn higher nonjudging. The resulting higher nonjudging predicted reductions in experiential avoidance tendencies (SIE = −0.068; CI −0.12, −0.03) and beliefs (SIE = −0.094; CI −0.15, −0.05), and RNT (SIE = −0.089; CI −0.15, −0.04).

Conclusions

Consistent with theories of mindfulness and metacognition, results show the importance of attentional control and metacognitive beliefs in predicting mindfulness skills and in turn reducing experiential avoidance and RNT.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.

vorige artikel Be Here Now: Dispositional Mindfulness Enhances Fading Affect Bias

volgende artikel Cognitive and Somatic Mediators of the Effects of Trait Mindfulness on Mental Health Adjustment Following Bereavement

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Titel: Mindful Metacognition: Attention, Beliefs, and Skills in the Acceptance of Experiences
Auteurs: Zachary I. Wunder
Lara L. Jones
Publicatiedatum: 03-01-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness / Uitgave 12/2023
Print ISSN: 1868-8527
Elektronisch ISSN: 1868-8535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02254-w

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