Trait mindfulness and health behaviours: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Mindfulness is defined as bringing one's attention to present-moment experience with acceptance, and is associated with engagement in various health behaviours. To synthesise and evaluate this literature, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analytic review and examined (a) the associations between trait mindfulness and health behaviours and (b) the extent to which these associations were moderated by study and individual differences. A total of 125 independent samples were included (N = 31,697, median male percentage = 38.8%, median age = 28.3). A multilevel random-effects model was used to estimate summary study-level effect sizes, and multilevel mixed-effects models were used to examine moderator effects. Mindfulness had a positive and small association with aggregated health behaviours (r = .08). Mindfulness was positively associated with physical activity, healthy eating, and sleep (rs = .08-.14), and negatively associated with alcohol use (r = −.06). Effects were larger for health promoting behaviours, the acting with awareness facet of mindfulness, and samples involving psychiatric patients. Although findings indicate that individual differences in trait mindfulness do not reliably translate into a pattern of healthful behaviours in general, trait mindfulness shows a stronger associations with health behaviours under certain conditions.

The association between mindfulness and health promotion in undergraduate nursing students: A serial multiple mediator analysis

“…These combinations are perceived stress and self‐care agency, depressive symptoms and self‐care agency, and perceived stress with depressive symptoms and self‐care agency. The importance of these results lies in supporting the argument that the association between mindfulness and health promotion is rather complex (Sala et al., 2019). In addition, they provide insights regarding conducting future research with a central recommendation that researchers should consider serial multiple mediation in favour of parallel multiple mediation.…”

“…Studying issues pertinent to health promotion could have a positive impact on college students’ life in the near future through improving academic success (Leland, 2015) and overall well‐being (Van der Riet et al., 2018; White, 2013). Preventing or reducing the risk of chronic diseases later in life could also be an outcome of supporting health promotion during college life (Sala et al., 2019). The results of the current study showed that mediators demonstrate a key role in determining the relationship between mindfulness and health promotion.…”

“…The literature shows that mindfulness is specifically beneficial to students who experience intense stress and engage in interpersonal interaction (Leland, 2015). However, the investigation of the relationship between mindfulness and health promotion/behaviour is needed (Sala, Rochefort, Lui, & Baldwin, 2019). Furthermore, an examination of the potential mediators of the relationship between mindfulness and health promotion and outcomes has been called for (Koszycki et al, 2016; Lyzwinski et al., 2018; Sala et al, 2019).…”

Dynamic conceptual framework to investigate adoption of healthy diet through agent-based modelling

“…(Shaw et al, 2019 Environmental interventions such as health promotion education and labelling improve dietary behaviours. (Sala et al, 2019) Mindfulness (bringing one's attention to present moment) is associated with eating health behaviours (rs=0.14, 95% CI: 0.08-0.19).…”

The feasibility of ‘Mind the Bump’: A mindfulness based maternal behaviour change intervention

“…Mindfulness is an inherent psychological characteristic trait typified by an ability to be lucidly aware of present moment experience, an open, accepting, and curious engagement with present moment experience, and a non-judgemental, accepting, and self-compassionate attitude to oneself [29]. Naturally occurring 'trait' mindfulness is positively related to higher physical activity and healthy eating, lower alcohol consumption, higher positive affect and wellbeing, and lower perceived stress, antenatal depression, pregnancy-related distress, and general anxiety in pregnancy [27,30].…”