Mindfulness has attracted considerable interest as a way to reduce cognitive vulnerability to stress and emotional distress, but it has not been defined operationally. Recent consensus meetings produced a two-component model of mindfulness, specifying each component in terms of specific behaviors, experiential manifestations, and psychological processes. The paper addresses temporal stability and situational specificity, speculates on the conceptual and operational distinctiveness of mindfulness, and discusses implications for instrument development and measurement.
Mindfulness-based interventions, which train individuals to focus attention on present-moment experiences through meditation, show promise for treating several psychological disorders. A review of conceptual approaches and empirical studies, incorporating meta-analytic techniques, finds that while the existing research contains many methodological flaws, the evidence suggests these interventions may be beneficial. More rigorous investigations are needed to confirm their effectiveness.
Mindfulness can improve emotion regulation, a key component of mental health linked to various forms of psychopathology. The authors describe measurement work supporting a consensus definition of mindfulness and show how mindfulness enhances both stabilizing and destabilizing aspects of therapeutic change, illustrated in a treatment program for depression.