Longitudinal Association Between Mindfulness and Wisdom: A Follow-Up Study in Emerging Adulthood.
Yimeng Wang, Hao Cheng
Journal of Intelligence September 19, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence13090122 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 719 |
| Population | Chinese first-year college students (emerging adults) |
| Duration | Three-wave longitudinal design (three timepoints); specific interval not stated |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Situated Wise Reasoning Scale, Wise Thinking Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Longitudinal design Wise reasoning Random intercept cross-lagged Wise thinking |
| Key findings | Wise reasoning and wise thinking both showed linear growth across three timepoints. Dispositional mindfulness was strongly positively associated with wisdom between persons, and within-person fluctuations in mindfulness prospectively predicted later changes in wise reasoning and wise thinking, establishing temporal precedence. The authors argue wisdom can be both a developing ability and a stable trait during emerging adulthood. |
Abstract
While theoretical frameworks posit mindfulness as a catalyst for wisdom development, longitudinal evidence remains scarce. This study examines the developmental trajectory of wisdom during emerging adulthood and investigates the intra-person and within-person effects of mindfulness on wisdom through a three-wave longitudinal design. A sample of 719 Chinese first-year college students completed assessments of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Situated Wise Reasoning Scale, and the Wise Thinking Scale across three timepoints. Longitudinal multilevel analysis (LMA) and random intercepts cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) were employed to distinguish between stable individual differences and temporary fluctuations. Three key findings emerged: (1) Both wise reasoning and wise thinking exhibited linear growth trajectories. (2) At the between-person level, dispositional mindfulness showed strong positive associations with wisdom. (3) Within-person analyses revealed that mindfulness fluctuations prospectively predicted changes in wise reasoning and thinking, establishing temporal precedence. This study provides new evidence that wisdom can be both a developing ability and a stable trait during emerging adulthood. The observed dynamic links between mindfulness and wisdom highlight the potential of mindfulness-based interventions to foster the growth of wisdom.
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 |