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The Journal of Positive Psychology

Dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 7, 2012 - Issue 3
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Original Articles

Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators

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Pages 230-238
Received 25 Sep 2011
Accepted 02 Mar 2012
Published online: 11 Apr 2012
 

Mindfulness training has well-documented effects on psychological health. Recent findings suggest that increases in both mindfulness and self-compassion may mediate these outcomes; however, their separate and combined effects are rarely examined in the same participants. This study investigated cross-sectional relationships between self-reported mindfulness, self-compassion, meditation experience, and psychological wellbeing in 77 experienced meditators and 75 demographically matched nonmeditators. Most mindfulness and self-compassion scores were significantly correlated with meditation experience and psychological wellbeing. Mindfulness and self-compassion accounted for significant independent variance in wellbeing. A significant relationship between meditation experience and wellbeing was completely accounted for by a combination of mindfulness and self-compassion scores. Findings suggest that both mindfulness and self-compassion skills may play important roles in the improved wellbeing associated with mindfulness training; however, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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