Relationship between dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation among middle adolescents

Abstract

Many philosophical, spiritual, and psychological traditions emphasize the importance of the quality of consciousness for the maintenance and enhancement of well-being (Brown & Ryan, 2003). One attribute of consciousness that has been much-discussed in relation to well-being is mindfulness. Mindfulness has been defined as being intentionally aware of internal and external experiences that occur at the present moment, without judgment (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007). Study demonstrated that mindfulness is measurable quality possessed even by those who do not practice mindfulness meditation (Hollis-Walker, 2011). Literature reviews on mindfulness conclude various positive psychological effects, including increased subjective well-being, reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation (Keng, Smoski, & Robins, 2011). Psychological disturbance contribute to serious learning and health impairments in adolescence. Review on school-based prevalence rates in psychological problems covering the period from 1972 to 2002 shown an increase from 3.23 to 36.50%(Bhola & Kapur, 2003) in India. Findings suggest trait mindfulness possibly shields against decision-making processes that place adolescents at risk for smoking (Black, Sussman, Johnson, & Milam, 2012). Recent study demonstrate statistically robust and clinically significant relations between mindfulness and the theorized proximal and distal mood and anxiety vulnerability factors (Tanay, Lotan, & Bernstein, 2012). Further negative correlations between mindfulness and self-reported stress and emotion regulation strategies such as rumination and catastrophizing were reported (de Bruin, Zijlstra, van de Weijer-Bergsma, & Bögels, 2011).However, the majority of this research has been conducted in elsewhere and on adults.