Mindfulness is an attribute of consciousness long believed to promote well-being. This research provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the role of mindfulness in psychological well-being. The development and psychometric properties of the dispositional Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) are described. Correlational, quasi-experimental, and laboratory studies then show that the MAAS measures a unique quality of consciousness that is related to a variety of well-being constructs, that differentiates mindfulness practitioners from others, and that is associated with enhanced selfawareness. An experience-sampling study shows that both dispositional and state mindfulness predict self-regulated behavior and positive emotional states. Finally, a clinical intervention study with cancer patients demonstrates that increases in mindfulness over time relate to declines in mood disturbance and stress.Many philosophical, spiritual, and psychological traditions emphasize the importance of the quality of consciousness for the maintenance and enhancement of well-being (Wilber, 2000). Despite this, it is easy to overlook the importance of consciousness in human well-being because almost everyone exercises its primary capacities, that is, attention and awareness. Indeed, the relation between qualities of consciousness and well-being has received little empirical attention. One attribute of consciousness that has been much-discussed in relation to well-being is mindfulness.

4.Burton P, Gurrin L, Sly P. Extending the simple linear regression model to account for correlated responses: an introduction to generalized estimating equations and multi-level mixed modelling. Stat Med. 1998;17(11):1261-1291 In Reply: Drs Wang and Gao assert that social desirability is a response bias that can confound relationships among the variables of interest. This claim is nonspecific and belied by the evidence. First, a wide body of psychometric data suggests that the putative social desirability response bias is not a response bias at all, but a misnomer for a personality trait related to conventionality.1 Second, even if social desirability resulted in a response bias, there is no psychometric consensus on how it should be measured. Third, even if its measurement were attempted, including the results of this measurement in models may reduce rather than enhance the validity of associations.2,3 For instance, in the legally perilous and financially high-stakes world of personnel selection, meta-analytic evidence weighs heavily against the claims that social desirability is a response bias and confounds associations of interest; efforts to measure and adjust for it are discouraged. Fourth, even if a social desirability bias exists, measurement is endeavored, and adjustment attempted, social desirability responsiveness could bias treatment effect estimates only if it were associated with both the outcome and treatment.Even if all of the preceding conditions prevailed, data on the effects of mindfulness suggest that this putative bias would likely work in the opposite direction of the study's findings. The magnitude of the treatment effect would be underestimated because mindfulness treatments reduce, rather than increase, the reactivity to social norms and closemindedness characteristic of the social desirability bias. 4 Therefore, social desirability responding would operate prior to treatment, inflating pretreatment reports of adjustment. Because treatment reduces attributes giving rise to this putative response bias, posttreatment reports of adjustment would not benefit from the same inflation as pretreatment reports, thereby spuriously reducing the difference between pretreatment and posttreatment scores.Wang and Gao also raise concerns regarding the possible organizational effects among individuals, suggesting that the group effect should also be disaggregated and that modeling of both within-and between-individual effects can be used. First, we note that there were no other group effects to be disaggregated. Second, the linear mixed models used already model between-and within-individual effects. Third, even if clustering on a variable is observed, specification of a random effect is only appropriate if the clustering can be traced to the data generating process.5 A nonzero intraclass correlation is necessary but not sufficient evidence of such a data generating process. The sufficient condition is that measurements are random variables arising from a probability space in which their expected probabi...

We thank Sagree Sharma for her efforts on the graphical design. Darren Good gratefully acknowledges support from the Julian Virtue Professorship endowment.

Preparation for the role of therapist can occur on both professional and personal levels. Research has found that therapists are at risk for occupationally related psychological problems. It follows that self-care may be a useful complement to the professional training of future therapists. The present study examined the effects of one approach to self-care, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), for therapists in training. Using a prospective, cohort-controlled design, the study found participants in the MBSR program reported significant declines in stress, negative affect, rumination, state and trait anxiety, and significant increases in positive affect and self-compassion. Further, MBSR participation was associated with increases in mindfulness, and this enhancement was related to several of the beneficial effects of MBSR participation. Discussion highlights the potential for future research addressing the mental health needs of therapists and therapist trainees.

Happiness and ecological well-being are often portrayed as conflictual pursuits, but they may actually be complementary. In samples of adolescents (Study 1) and adults (Study 2), we tested this proposition and examined the role of three factors in promoting both subjective well-being (SWB) and ecologically responsible behavior (ERB). In both studies, individuals higher in SWB reported more ERB. An intrinsic value orientation (Studies 1 and 2) and dispositional mindfulness (Study 2) related to higher SWB and ERB, while a lifestyle of voluntary simplicity (Study 2) related to higher ERB. Further analyses showed that the compatibility of SWB and ERB was explained by intrinsic values and mindfulness. These findings offer clues to a sustainable way of life that enhances both personal and collective well-being.

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Two studies examined the role of mindfulness in romantic relationship satisfaction and in responses to relationship stress. Using a longitudinal design, Study 1 found that higher trait mindfulness predicted higher relationship satisfaction and greater capacities to respond constructively to relationship stress. Study 2 replicated and extended these findings. Mindfulness was again shown to relate to relationship satisfaction; then, using a conflict discussion paradigm, trait mindfulness was found to predict lower emotional stress responses and positive pre- and postconflict change in perception of the relationship. State mindfulness was related to better communication quality during the discussion. Both studies indicated that mindfulness may play an influential role in romantic relationship well-being. Discussion highlights future research directions for this new area of inquiry.

Research has shown that mindfulness-based treatment interventions may be effective for a range of mental and physical health disorders in adult populations, but little is known about the effectiveness of such interventions for treating adolescent conditions. The present randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the effect of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adolescents age 14 to 18 years with heterogeneous diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric facility (intent-to-treat N ϭ 102). Relative to treatment-as-usual control participants, those receiving MBSR self-reported reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress, and increased self-esteem and sleep quality. Of clinical significance, the MBSR group showed a higher percentage of diagnostic improvement over the 5-month study period and significant increases in global assessment of functioning scores relative to controls, as rated by condition-naïve clinicians. These results were found in both completer and intent-to-treat samples. The findings provide evidence that MBSR may be a beneficial adjunct to outpatient mental health treatment for adolescents.