A Focused Approach to Mindful Attention Awareness and Emotion Regulation: Vipassana Meditation

People who regularly practice Vipassana meditation show higher mindful attention awareness and better emotion regulation compared with non-meditators. Among 248 participants, 123 were experienced Vipassana meditators who had meditated at least five times weekly for two years and completed at least one 10-day course; 125 were non-meditators. Scores on the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation scale revealed a significant relationship between mindful awareness and emotion regulation, and a significant difference between the two groups. The findings suggest Vipassana meditation is associated with improved emotional regulation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between mindful attention awareness and emotion regulation as well as the effect of vipassana meditation on these two constructs. The Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS-15) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (DERS-36) are used for data collection. Out of 248 participants, 123 are Vipassana Meditators, who practised Vipassana Meditation at least five times per week for the previous two years and had attended at least one 10- day Vipassana Meditation Course from any Vipassana Centre, and 125 are nonmeditators, who did not practise any meditation at all. The obtained data analysis was done on SPSS-25 and found to have a significant relationship between mindful attention awareness and emotional regulation. The results also revealed that there is a significant difference in the samples’ mindful awareness and emotional regulation. The results of the study help to complement and understand clearly, as well as present a unique contribution to the current body of information on Vipassana Meditation and its highly beneficial impact.