Mindfulness in U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Correlates, and Functional Significance.
Hun Kang, Ian C. Fischer, Peter J Na, Robert H Pietrzak
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2025 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.70059 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4,069 |
| Population | U.S. military veterans |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Dysphoric arousal Functioning Grit Somatic symptoms Veterans |
| Key findings | Lower dysphoric arousal was the strongest correlate of mindfulness among veterans, followed by fewer somatic symptoms, higher grit, and lower depression and anxiety symptoms. |
Abstract
While there is a growing body of literature on mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions in veteran population, less is known about who might benefit from these interventions. In this study, we analysed data from a nationally representative sample of 4069 U.S. military veterans to examine levels and prevalence of mindfulness; identify and quantify key correlates of mindfulness; explore interactions of positive and negative correlates of mindfulness; and evaluate associations between mindfulness and functioning measures. Overall, veterans reported average mindfulness scores-measured with an abbreviated 3-item version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale-of 5.02 out of 6, with 68.6% reporting a high level of mindfulness (i.e., scores of 5 and above). Results of multiple linear regression and relative importance analyses revealed that lower dysphoric arousal was the strongest correlate of mindfulness, followed by fewer somatic symptoms, higher levels of grit, and lower levels of current major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder symptoms. Additionally, interaction analyses of negative and positive correlates showed that secure attachment and received social support moderated the associations between somatic symptoms and mindfulness. Lastly, mindfulness scores were independently and positively associated with mental, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, adjusting for covariates. This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of mindfulness in a nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans and highlights key characteristics and functioning outcomes linked to mindfulness. Further research may develop and evaluate MBIs that specifically target individuals with dysphoric arousal and somatic symptoms or leverage protective psychosocial characteristics such as grit.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Theory and Practice The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
- Testing the Efficacy of a Multicomponent, Self-Guided, Smartphone-Based Meditation App: Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Mental Health November 27, 2020
and 10 more in the library