Being present and enjoying it: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health.
Laura G. Kiken, Kristjen B Lundberg, Barbara L. Fredrickson
Mindfulness March 29, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0704-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal field study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Duration | Nine-week longitudinal field study with daily emotion reports and end-of-study follow-up |
| Measures | depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, daily positive emotions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Health Emotion Positive Savoring |
| Key findings | Baseline dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment interacted to predict mean daily positive emotions over nine weeks and, in turn, residualized changes in depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction. The savoring–positive emotion link was amplified at higher mindfulness and non-significant at lower mindfulness; mindfulness predicted outcomes only among those very high in savoring ability. |
Abstract
Mindfulness and savoring the moment both involve presently occurring experiences. However, these scientific constructs are distinct and may play complementary roles when predicting day-to-day positive emotions. Therefore, we examined the unique and interactive roles of dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment for predicting daily positive emotions as well as related psychological health benefits. Participants completed a nine-week longitudinal field study. At baseline, dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment were assessed, along with three indicators of psychological health: depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction. Each day for the subsequent nine weeks, participants reported on their emotions. At the end of the study, participants again completed the three psychological health measures. Results showed that baseline dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment interacted to predict mean positive emotion levels over the reporting period and, in turn, residualized changes in psychological health. Specifically, the relation between perceived ability to savor the moment and positive emotions and, in turn, residualized change in psychological health indicators, was amplified at greater levels of mindfulness and fell to non-significance at lower levels of mindfulness. Dispositional mindfulness only predicted positive emotions and, in turn, residualized changes in psychological health, for those very high in perceived ability to savor the moment. This research provides preliminary evidence that dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment, though related constructs, may serve unique and synergistic roles in predicting benefits for and through positive emotions.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 15
- How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology December 1, 2018
- Positive Psychological States in the Arc from Mindfulness to Self-Transcendence: Extensions of the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory and Applications to Addiction and Chronic Pain Treatment Current Opinion in Psychology January 14, 2019
- A new micro-intervention to increase the enjoyment and continued practice of meditation. Emotion October 15, 2019
- How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials August 21, 2018
- Relationship of Mindfulness with Depression, Self-Management, and Quality of Life in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Mindfulness is a Predictor of Quality of Life Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry 2023
and 10 more in the library
Cites 15
- 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
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
and 10 more in the library