Honors College Theses

Publication Date

12-2-2015

Major

Psychology (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Jessica Brooks, Ph.D.

Abstract

Previous studies have explored the impact of mindfulness on Big 5 personality traits, personality disorders, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use; additionally, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been used to treat individuals suffering from depression and anxiety. However, the practical application of mindfulness has been complicated by contradictory findings in the literature and inconsistent conceptualizations of the construct. The current study sought to investigate potential relationships between types of mindfulness, facets of mindfulness, substance use, and affect. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires related to mindfulness, correlates of neuroticism (i.e., depression, anxiety, and subjective happiness), and drinking-related consequences. Correlational analyses revealed significant relationships between mindfulness and neurotic subtraits (i.e., depression and anxiety), mindfulness and subjective happiness, and mindfulness and experiences of drinking-related problems. A regression revealed that the Acting with Awareness and Nonjudging facets of mindfulness significantly predicted recent experiences of drinking-related problems; as acting with awareness decreased and nonjudging increased, recent experiences of drinking-related problems increased. Results suggest that specific types and facets of mindfulness are differentially related to aspects of substance use behavior. Results also suggest a link between overall mindfulness and emotionality. The implications of this study for practical applications of mindfulness, as well as limitations and future directions, are discussed.

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