Mindfulness meditation and curiosity: The contributing factors to wellbeing and the process of closing the self-discrepancy gap
Itai Ivtzan, Hannah E. Gardner, Zhanar Smailova
International Journal of Wellbeing October 16, 2011 DOI: 10.5502/ijw.v1i3.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 120 |
| Population | Participants in a mindfulness meditation course |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Measures | Selves questionnaire, Curiosity and Exploration Inventory |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key points | The authors report that a mindfulness meditation course reduced actual-ideal self-discrepancy, and that higher trait curiosity was associated with larger reductions in self-discrepancy after meditation. |
Abstract
Actual/ideal self-discrepancy is the measurable difference between an individual's beliefs about who they think they are (actual self) and their image of the person they would ideally like to be (ideal self).When the self-discrepancy gap is small, higher psychological wellbeing exists.Mindfulness meditation, by means of greater awareness of the continuous fluctuation of thought from one point to another, has been shown to increase self-acceptance, which can lead to minimizing self-discrepancy.Additionally, curiosity is an important third factor in motivating the change required to reduce self-discrepancy.This study hypothesises that mindfulness meditation reduces actual-ideal self-discrepancy.Additionally, it hypothesises that higher trait curiosity will lead to a larger reduction in self-discrepancy.One hundred and twenty participants took part in a mindfulness meditation course.Before and after this, participants completed a Selves questionnaire and the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory.The findings confirm that mindfulness meditation can effectively reduce the gap between actual/ideal self attributes.In addition, curiosity is an influencing factor in making the largest changes in selfdiscrepancy after meditation.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 16
- 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
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
and 11 more in the library