The Relationship Among Mentalization, Mindfulness, Working Memory, and Schizotypal Personality Traits in the General Population

Abstract

Individuals with high schizotypal traits are less able to observe, describe, and monitor inner feelings, thoughts, and experiences, commonly referred to as mindfulness and mentalization. High schizotypy is also associated with impaired working memory (WM). However, the relationship among mindfulness, mentalization, WM, and schizotypal traits is unknown. Three hundred individuals from the community (mean age: 38.0 years, SD = 10.5; 49.3% women) completed questionnaires examining schizotypal traits, mindfulness, and mentalization and performed working memory tasks. Results revealed that mentalization was a general predictor of schizotypal traits, including unusual experiences, cognitive disorganization, introverted anhedonia, and impulsive nonconformity, when the effect of mindfulness and working memory was controlled. We also found a positive correlation between mindfulness and mentalization. Low mindfulness and mentalization performances were associated with high schizotypy. However, poor working memory was only weakly linked to cognitive disorganization and introverted anhedonia. These findings suggest that weak mentalization is a core feature of schizotypy independent of mindfulness and working memory.

A time to reflect: deviations from the balanced time perspective are associated with hypomentalization

“…Another factor to consider is mindfulness, defined as “the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally” ( Kabat-Zinn, 1990 ). More specifically, the ability to focus on the here-and-now with an accepting mind has been considered a gateway to greater understanding of self and others, and a significant positive association of mentalization and mindfulness was observed in prior studies involving non-clinical samples ( Török and Kéri, 2022 ; Ruiz-Parra et al, 2023 ). Similarly, higher trait mindfulness was associated with smaller DBTP values ( Stolarski et al, 2016 ; Rönnlund et al, 2019 ), and mindfulness-based interventions significantly decreased DBTP ( Rönnlund et al, 2019 ), presumably because of greater acceptance of the present may generalize to the past and reduces tendencies to ruminate on past experiences and worry about the future.…”

Theory of Mind in relation to Metacognition and ICTs. A metacognitive approach to ToM

“…Table 1. Differences Between ToM and Metacognition (Schraw, & Moshman, 1995;Papaleontiou-Louca, 2019;Lecce, Bianco, Demicheli, & Cavallini, 2014;Carruthers, 2009 b;Efklides, 2008;Hussain, 2015;Török, & Kéri, 2022;Flavell, et al, 2000).…”

“…A recent study reports that the limited development of ToM and mindfulness of individuals with features of autism as well as schizophrenia affects their metacognitive concerns, experiences, and judgments. Because of the causal relationship that appears to exist between ToM, mindfulness, and metacognition individuals can improve their mind-reading skills by cultivating their mindfulness (Török, & Kéri, 2022).…”

Mentalization, Oxytocin, and Cortisol in the General Population

“…The participants’ features are shown in Table 1 . We used social media advertisement and a random digit dialing recruited survey to obtain a representative sample for age, gender, education, income, rural and urban geography, and perceived health (all Cramer V-values < 0.1) [ 53 ]. Individuals with psychiatric and neurological disorders were not included in the study.…”