Present with you: Does cultivated mindfulness lead to greater social connection through gains in decentering and reductions in negative emotions?

The current study investigates the efficacy of cultivating mindfulness for increasing feelings of social connection, and tests mechanisms of action (i.e., decentering and negative emotions) in these gains. I hypothesized that, relative to an active control condition, participants of a mindfulness meditation course would experience gains in the propensity for social connection as well as reports of feeling socially connected. Further, I expected that these gains would be mediated by boosts in decentering and reductions in negative emotions, and that as a result of greater social connection, participants would report greater positive emotion. Ninety-four community member adults were randomly assigned to a 6-week Mindfulness Meditation course (n = 51) or a 6-week active control course (“Health Promotion”; n = 43). Participants were assessed for social connection, decentering and emotions at pre and post training. A higher-order latent change model found support for elements of the model that were unrelated to condition. An exploratory latent change model revealed that gains in trait mindfulness supports the hypothesized model. Taken together these findings underscore the relevance of trait mindfulness in investigating changes due to mindfulness training. Limitations, such as small sample size, as well as future directions of this work, are discussed.Doctor of Philosoph