Satisfying Basic Needs: The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice on Character Strengths, Mindfulness, and Well-being Across Two Samples
Nicole Casali, Chiara Meneghetti, Andreas Hirschi, Dandan Pang
Journal of Happiness Studies August 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-026-01089-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 95 |
| Population | Adults from two separate samples |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, follow-up up to 6 months (strengths) and 3 months (mindfulness) |
| Measures | PERMA |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | MBSP produced small to medium effects on half of character strengths and overall dispositional mindfulness, lasting beyond intervention end. Direct effects on well-being were limited to reducing negative emotions, but gains in overall PERMA were fully mediated by satisfaction of basic psychological needs, especially autonomy, and by character strengths increases. |
Abstract
Abstract The Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) is an 8-week manualized program that integrates character strengths and mindfulness to promote well-being. Although its benefits for well-being are documented, its impact on the development of character strengths and mindfulness, and the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Across two randomized controlled trials ( N1 = 42, M age = 44.74, SD age = 9.70, N2 = 53, M age = 32.23, SD age = 14.40), we examined MBSP’s impact on character strengths and dispositional mindfulness over time (five and two time points, respectively), on a multidimensional measure of well-being (i.e., PERMA), and the mediating role of basic psychological needs (Study 2, pre-registered). Overall, MBSP produced small to medium effects on half of character strengths and overall dispositional mindfulness that lasted beyond the end of the intervention (up to six and three months after, respectively). For well-being, the only significant direct effect was on negative emotions; however, changes in overall PERMA were fully mediated by satisfaction of basic psychological needs, particularly autonomy. Higher character strengths also mediated gains in well-being. These findings suggest that MBSP can enhance character strengths and mindfulness, reduce negative emotions, and improve well-being via the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and changes in character strengths levels.