Associations between mindfulness and implicit cognition and self-reported affect.
Theory suggests that mindful individuals exhibit enhanced attentional processing (e.g., attentional control) and that they maintain a detached perspective to problematic stimuli. For smokers, smoking and affective stimuli are problematic stimuli when they try to quit. In this cross-sectional study, smokers (n = 158) completed 3 modified Stroop tasks (to assess attentional control), 3 Implicit Association Tests (IATs; to assess detached perspective), and a battery of self-report assessments. Degree of mindfulness was negatively associated (P < .05) with self-reported negative affect, perceived stress, and depressive symptom severity, and positively associated (P < .05) with positive affect. Degree of mindfulness was not associated with the ability to disengage attention from smoking or affective stimuli. On the depression IAT, more mindful participants exhibited a more negative IAT effect, suggesting that they may have developed a detached perspective to depression-related stimuli. Theoretical and clinical implications of the data are discussed.
Waters
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. andrew.waters@usuhs.mil
Reitzel
Lorraine R
LR
Cinciripini
Paul
P
Li
Yisheng
Y
Marcus
Marianne T
MT
Vidrine
Jennifer Irvin
JI
Wetter
David W
DW
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy