Mindfulness and foreign language learners’ self-perceived proficiency: the mediating roles of anxiety and burnout
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development January 24, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/01434632.2022.2150196 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 492 |
| Population | Second or foreign language learners |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Citations | 39 |
| Key findings | Higher mindfulness was associated with greater self-perceived foreign language proficiency and lower foreign language anxiety and burnout. Anxiety and burnout mediated the relationship between mindfulness and self-perceived proficiency, leading the authors to suggest integrating mindfulness practices into language curricula and classrooms. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has been overlooked in previous studies of second or foreign language learning. This study aims to explore the relationship between mindfulness, anxiety, burnout and self-perceived foreign language proficiency among a sample of 492 learners. Further, it seeks to make up for the deficiency in the current empirical literature regarding the mediation roles of anxiety and burnout in the relationship between mindfulness and students’ self-perceived foreign language competence. The findings were as follows: (1) students have a moderate level of mindfulness and foreign language anxiety, low level of perceived proficiency and foreign language learning burnout; (2) an increased level of mindfulness was associated with higher perceived foreign language competence and lower levels of anxiety and burnout; (3) anxiety and burnout mediated the relationship between mindfulness and students’ self-perceived FL proficiency. It is suggested in the implications that school administrators and policymakers might need to provide space and time to integrate mindfulness practices into the curricula. Language instructors could also incorporate brief and accessible interventions in classrooms to enhance students’ level of mindfulness. Limitations and future directions are discussed for further investigations.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- The effects of trait mindfulness on Chinese EFL learners’ public speaking anxiety Discover Education September 28, 2026
- The impact of systematic guided meditation on writing self-efficacy, achievement, and perceptions: A quasi-experimental investigation focusing on breathing, music, and monolingual affirmations Moderna Språk October 17, 2025
- Does mindfulness mediate the relationship between anxiety and second language performance? A meta-analytic structural equation modeling study Frontiers in Psychology August 14, 2026
- Calm the Mind, Unlock the Voice: A Bayesian Longitudinal Analysis of Mindfulness and EFL Speaking Anxiety International Journal of Applied Linguistics June 26, 2025
- Mindfulness and foreign language achievement: a meta-analytic study on interventions and correlations. Frontiers in Psychology May 14, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 24
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
and 19 more in the library