Abstract
Mind-wandering—defined as off-task thinking—can be disruptive to daily functioning. Mindfulness is considered a potential method for reducing mind-wandering; however, no study has systematically reviewed findings on this topic. The present systematic review synthesizes current findings from this literature, examining whether results vary as a function of study methodology. Our final sample included n = 15 peer-reviewed studies, with 14 studies describing at least one significant relationship between the two constructs. Study results varied as a function of how constructs were operationalized and type of active control. Mindfulness appears most consistently related to reductions in probe-caught mind-wandering, as well as fewer commission errors and less response time variability on sustained attention tasks. Self-report measures of both constructs were the least consistent in their relation to other measures. Future research should focus on increasing methodological rigor to confirm results and on identifying facets of mindfulness most effective for decreasing mind-wandering.
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Notes
RTV is the standard deviation of reaction time divided by mean reaction time.
Studies in this review which used the FFMQ noted that scores on multiple facets of mindfulness increased as a result of mindfulness intervention, suggesting attentional awareness is not the only contributing facet.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank everyone who assisted in the editing and publication of this article. To Kristen Mano and Cathy Stough, thank you for your helpful feedback early on and your support of this project. Thank you to my research assistant, Qingyi Zhang, for her diligence and patience helping me edit and prepare this manuscript. Thank you also to my wonderful friend and colleague, Miguel Nuñez, who spent countless late nights helping me proofread and edit. And lastly, to my research mentor and co-author, Quintino Mano. None of this would be possible without his ongoing academic support, mentorship, and wisdom.
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Conceptualization, Lynley Turkelson and Quintino Mano; investigation, Lynley Turkelson and Quintino Mano; formal analysis, Lynley Turkelson; writing, original draft, Lynley Turkelson; writing, review and editing, Lynley Turkelson and Quintino Mano.
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Turkelson, L., Mano, Q. The Current State of Mind: a Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Mind-Wandering. J Cogn Enhanc 6, 272–294 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-021-00231-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-021-00231-6