Executive function and self-regulation mediate dispositional mindfulness and well-being

Does Mindfulness Enhance Critical Thinking? Evidence for the Mediating Effects of Executive Functioning in the Relationship between Mindfulness and Critical Thinking

“…It is surprising to find no direct effects of non-reactivity on any component of EF since the engagement of executive control to suppress the elaboration of affective cues is considered to be central to non-reactive information processing ( Teper and Inzlicht, 2013 ). However, a recent study found a significant but small negative effect of non-reactivity on self-reported behavior regulation, which includes items related to inhibition and shifting ( Short et al, 2015 ). Non-reactivity skills have been shown to take longer to develop than observing skills in training studies ( Lilja et al, 2012 ) and perhaps more explicit guidance and practice are needed to demonstrate significant links between non-reactivity and EF.…”

“…It has been suggested that including both self-reported measures of EF and self-regulation and performance-based measures is important for increasing ecological validity ( Toplak et al, 2013 ). Future investigations could include measures such as the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions which has been shown recently to mediate the relationship between mindfulness and both positive and negative affect independently of and to a greater extent than performance-based EF tasks ( Short et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Recent research has shown that over the course of a mindfulness-based meditation training program individual trajectories of change in the ability to engage a mindful state is associated with both increases in dispositional mindfulness and psychological health ( Kiken et al, 2015 ). This adds to research demonstrating associations between dispositional mindfulness in non-meditators and adaptive outcomes such as increased life satisfaction ( Kong et al, 2014 ), better emotional regulation ( Goodall et al, 2012 ), lower depression and anxiety symptoms ( Desrosiers et al, 2013 ), less negative and more positive affect ( Short et al, 2015 ), and increased self-esteem ( Rasmussen and Pidgeon, 2011 ). It is also consistent with studies on mindfulness-based interventions that demonstrated increases in dispositional mindfulness which correlated with psychological health benefits ( Kiken et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Engaging this present-moment attention in a non-reactive manner then requires the inhibition of elaborative processing of such representations ( Hayes and Shenk, 2004 ; Holas and Jankowski, 2012 ). Recent research has shown that EF mediates the relationship between mindfulness and positive and negative affect ( Short et al, 2015 ) but no studies have examined the indirect effects of specific mindfulness facets through specific components of EF on outcomes usually associated with CT ability.…”

Dispositional orientation to the present and future and its role in pro-environmental behavior and sustainability

“…One must differentiate between an impulsive present orientation and present-mindedness as developed and cultivated, for example, through introspective training, such as meditation ( Campos et al., 2016 ; Schötz et al., 2016 ; Wittmann and Schmidt, 2014 ). The former is associated with a strong urge to act at the present moment and is stimulus-oriented, whereas the latter is associated with an observational state related to more self-control ( Short et al., 2016 ; Wittmann et al., 2014 ). One would have to conceptualize impulsivity as an urge to act in the immediate future versus acting in the interest of long-term goals ( Joireman et al., 2012 ).…”