The Relationship between Trait Mindfulness, Psychological Health and Cognition: Mediation by Decentering

Indianapolis, IN

The goal of the current study was to replicate and extend the findings of Brown and colleagues (2014), who demonstrated that trait mindfulness predicted better psychological health outcomes, an effect which was mediated by decentering. This work suggests that decentering, the ability to detach from ones thoughts and emotions, is an important mediator in the relationship of mindfulness and psychological health. But, is decentering involved in the relationship between mindfulness and other outcomes, such as cognitive skills or decision-making? We asked participants to complete a series of surveys set to assess mindfulness (using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), decentering, and cognitive/decision-making measures (problem solving and ethical negotiation strategies), and measures of psychological health (worry, stress, depression). We found that, as predicted, mindfulness was correlated with better psychological health, and that when decentering is controlled for, mindfulness does not have a significant correlation with psychological symptoms. However, while mindfulness was also correlated with better problem-solving and more ethical negotiation strategies, decentering did not mediate the relationship between mindfulness and these other cognitive measures.