A two-stage study examined how metacognitive processes of decentering—meta-awareness, (dis)identification with internal experiences, and (non)reactivity to thought content—relate to self-transcendence experiences in daily life, including self-transcendent emotions, flow proneness, and an interconnected identity. The first stage validated the French version of the Metacognitive Processes of Decentering Scale (MPoD-t) with 374 participants. The second stage, with 294 participants, found that meta-awareness mediated the link between meditative practice and self-transcendent emotions or flow, while (dis)identification with internal experiences mediated the link between practice and an interconnected identity.
A randomized controlled trial compared two meditation styles—focused-attention and self-inquiry—against a wait-list control group among 147 participants. Both meditation types reduced depressive symptoms and identity threat more than no meditation, with similar effectiveness. Focused-attention meditation also reduced dysfunctional attitudes more than self-inquiry or the control. Cognitive decentering (the ability to observe thoughts without identification) mediated the benefits of focused-attention meditation, while self-inquiry meditation showed exploratory links to increased feelings of connectedness to humanity and nature. The findings suggest that different meditation practices improve well-being through partially distinct psychological mechanisms, though the connectedness results require cautious interpretation.