Both mindfulness and self-compassion appear to contribute independently to psychological wellbeing, and together they fully explain the link between meditation experience and wellbeing. In a cross-sectional comparison of 77 experienced meditators and 75 matched nonmeditators, most mindfulness and self-compassion scores correlated significantly with meditation experience and wellbeing. The relationship between meditation experience and wellbeing was entirely accounted for by combined mindfulness and self-compassion scores, suggesting that these skills may be key mechanisms through which mindfulness training improves wellbeing. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Spiritual engagement is linked to well-being, and mindfulness—paying attention to the present moment with acceptance—is increasingly recognized as important in this relationship. Mindfulness and spirituality are overlapping but distinct constructs that likely interact and support each other's growth. Both serve as key mechanisms through which mindfulness-based interventions improve wellness. Because mindfulness meditation can induce an altered state of consciousness, other methods of inducing such states may also hold therapeutic potential.