Does the Mindful Mind Wander? The Underlying Role of Self-compassion and Grit

Abstract

Previous research suggests that mindfulness and mind wandering are opposing constructs. However, little is known about why and how they are negatively related. Through a process-oriented approach, this study tested self-compassion and grit as mediators for the relation between mindfulness and mind wandering. A total of 487 meditators were recruited from the UK (241 female, 49.49%). Participants reported a mean age of 38.98 years (SD = 10.03), with an average of 2.26 hours of meditation practice per week (SD = 4.47). Upon informed consent, the participants completed a self-report questionnaire that assessed the core variables under study. A path model was conducted to investigate the mediation model. The path model revealed that mindfulness was related to self-compassion. Greater self-compassion was, in turn, related to greater grit, which was then related to lower mind wandering. Bootstrapping analysis further indicated that self-compassion and grit were mediators between mindfulness and mind wandering, above and beyond age, gender, and hours of meditation as covariates. This study revealed self-compassion and grit as mediators for the relation between mindfulness and mind wandering. These findings provided new evidence by showing the initial mechanisms between mindfulness and mind wandering.