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Linking dispositional mindfulness and positive psychological processes in cancer survivorship: a multivariate path analytic test of the mindfulness‐to‐meaning theory
Author(s) -
Garland Eric L.,
Thielking Paul,
Thomas Elizabeth A.,
Coombs Mary,
White Shelley,
Lombardi Joy,
Beck Anna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4065
Subject(s) - mindfulness , psychology , cancer survivorship , path analysis (statistics) , clinical psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , meaning (existential) , survivorship curve , flourishing , mental health , psychotherapist , life satisfaction , cancer , medicine , statistics , mathematics
Background Research indicates that dispositional mindfulness is associated with positive psychological functioning. Although this disposition has been linked with beneficial outcomes in the broader mental health literature, less is known about dispositional mindfulness in cancer survivors and how it may be linked with indices of psychological and physical health relevant to cancer survivorship. Methods We conducted a multivariate path analysis of data from a heterogeneous sample of cancer patients ( N = 97) to test the Mindfulness‐to‐Meaning Theory , an extended process model of emotion regulation linking dispositional mindfulness with cancer‐related quality of life via positive psychological processes. Results We found that patients endorsing higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were more likely to pay attention to positive experiences ( β = .56), a tendency which was associated with positive reappraisal of stressful life events ( β = .51). Patients who engaged in more frequent positive reappraisal had a greater sense of meaning in life ( β = .43) and tended to savor rewarding or life affirming events ( β = .50). In turn, those who engaged in high levels of savoring had better quality of life ( β = .33) and suffered less from emotional distress ( β = −.54). Conclusions Findings provide support for the Mindfulness‐to‐Meaning Theory and help explicate the processes by which mindfulness promotes psychological flourishing in the face of cancer. Implications for Cancer Survivorship Cancer survivors may benefit from enhancing mindfulness, reappraisal, and savoring. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.