Re-examining the relationship between mindfulness facets, attentional control, and dispositional reinforcement sensitivity

Abstract

This study re-examines the relationships between the five mindfulness facets of observing, describing, acting-with-awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity, and the affective personality measures inspired by the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST). The rRST measures assess behavioural inhibition sensitivity, fight-flight-freeze sensitivity, and the behavioural approach sensitivity components of reward interest, goal-drive-persistence, reward reactivity, and impulsivity. Research has suggested that relationships exist between specific mindfulness facets and specific rRST constructs. However, some non-significant relationships were reported, possibly due to the small sample used. Also included in the analyses is (self-reported) attentional control, a variable that has not been accounted for in rRST and mindfulness research, but is inter-correlated with mindfulness and anxiety. In a sample of 641 participants, behavioral inhibition sensitivity shared a negative relationship with the describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity components of mindfulness, and the impulsivity component of behavioural approach sensitivity shared a negative relationship with the acting with awareness facet of mindfulness. This is consistent with previous research. Attentional control shared a positive relationship with the describing, acting with awareness. and non-judging facets of mindfulness. In conclusion, specific reinforcement sensitivity personality constructs and attentional control relate to specific mindfulness components. Trait mindfulness and/or the efficacy of mindfulness interventions could be affected by variations in reinforcement sensitivity and attentional control ability.