The Mutual Support Model of Mindfulness and Character Strengths.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Pang, Dandan Ruch, Willibald
Abstract	ObjectivesNumerous studies have confirmed robust relationships between general well-being and mindfulness or character strengths, respectively, but few have examined associations between mindfulness and character strengths. Two studies were carried out to explore these relationships comprehensively in the framework of the Values in Action (VIA) classification of character strengths.MethodsIn study 1, participants (N = 1335) completed validated assessments of mindfulness and character strengths, and the relationship between the two was investigated in a broad online sample. In study 2, the effect of a mindfulness training on specific character strengths was investigated using a randomized-control design (N = 42).ResultsThe results of study 1 confirmed positive relationships between mindfulness and character strengths and further identified a list of character strengths that might overlap with mindfulness—i.e., creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, bravery, perseverance, zest, love, social intelligence, forgiveness, self-regulation, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, and spirituality. The findings of study 2 provided further support for the hypothesis that mindfulness training could help cultivate certain character strengths. Compared with participants in the waitlist control condition, those who attended an 8-week mindfulness-based training program showed significant increases in the strengths of love, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, and spirituality, and a trend toward significant increases in the strengths of zest and bravery.ConclusionsThe results provide initial evidence for a mutual support model of mindfulness and character strengths.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC6647542&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	18688527
Journal	Mindfulness [Mindfulness (N Y)]
Volume Number	10
DOI	10.1007/s12671-019-01103-z
PubMed Central reference number	PMC6647542
Issue Number	8
PubMed reference number	31396291
e-ISSN	18688535
Language	English
Publisher	Springer US
Publisher Date	2019-02-16
Publisher Place	New York
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	OpenAccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. © The Author(s) 2019
Subject Keyword	Character strengths Mindfulness MBSR Positive psychology VIA classification
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Experimental and Cognitive Psychology Developmental and Educational Psychology Health (social science) Social Psychology Applied Psychology