A Critical Review of the Monitor and Acceptance Theory of Mindfulness
Luca Simione, Francesco Saldarini
Mindfulness June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-023-02129-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that the Monitor and Acceptance Theory of mindfulness rests on a reasonable basis but is supported by literature with four main weaknesses: unclear definition and measurement of monitoring and acceptance, inconsistent effects of monitoring alone on emotional reactivity, inconsistent moderation by acceptance, and little direct testing of the acceptance-alone tenet. Contends that recent dismantling studies failed to test MAT's tenets and therefore offer only insubstantial or incomplete evidence for or against the theory. |
Abstract
Abstract: In 2017, Lindsay and Creswell proposed the Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) of mindfulness, which proposed a unified and testable framework for interpreting and predicting different mindfulness effects on attention, affective reactivity, emotion regulation, and health-related variables. MAT identifies two basic mindfulness skills: attention monitoring and acceptance. The theory is articulated in two main tenets, affirming that attention monitoring increases present-moment awareness and emotional reactivity (Tenet #1) while acceptance regulates the affective experience (Tenet #2). Therefore, MAT proposes that monitoring per se could also have a negative psychological outcome, while it should lead to positive outcomes when combined with acceptance. Even though MAT is founded on a reasonable basis and is apparently supported by the existing literature, we identify four main issues in the literature cited in support of MAT. In particular, the main issues regard the way in which MAT skills were defined and measured (Issue #1), the inconsistent effect of monitoring alone on emotional reactivity (Issue #2), the inconsistent moderation effect of acceptance on monitoring in determining (positive) health-related outcomes (Issue #3), and the current absence of substantial testing on MAT Tenet 2, considering the effect of acceptance alone on mindfulness interventions (Issue #4). In this manuscript, we review the main contributions to each of these points and show a number of results that do not support MAT or contrast its tenets. In particular, we focus on the recent intervention studies aiming at dismantling the effect of mindfulness on mental health. After a close analysis, we concluded that they failed in testing the MAT tenets and thus provide only insubstantial or incomplete evidence in favor of or against MAT. While we support the aim of MAT theory and its tentative systematization of the vast literature on mindfulness, we would like to highlight its weak or controversial points so to further promote its development and testing with more compelling methods.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Brain Sciences September 30, 2024
- Effects of Dispositional Mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Interventions on the Psychosocial Consequences of Burn Injuries: A Systematic Review. European Burn Journal May 15, 2025
- The effect of sport-specific mindfulness on dispositional flow in collegiate athletes: the sequential mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and sport confidence Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2026
- Monitoring and Acceptance, or Monitoring Only? Effects of a Dismantled Mindfulness Intervention on Mindfulness and Emotional Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Clinical Psychology August 12, 2026
- Free Your Mind and Mental Health and Wellbeing Will Follow: Evidence from Across-Day Within-Person Mediation in an Eight-Week Mindfulness RCT Mindfulness March 26, 2026
and 9 more in the library
Cites 20
- 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
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Improving Health, Quality of Life, and Social Functioning in Adults Campbell Systematic Reviews 2012
and 15 more in the library