The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being.

Full Abstract

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 self-awareness. 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.

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Author information

Author/s: Brown, Kirk Warren (KW); Ryan, Richard M (RM);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, New York 14627-0266, USA. kirk@psych.rochester.edu

Grants: 59594 (Agency:United States PHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Validation Studies

Journal: Journal of personality and social psychology (J Pers Soc Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Apr; vol 84 (issue 4) : pp 822-48

Dates: Created 2003/04/21; Completed 2003/07/28; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12703651, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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