Where is the positive? : exploring the role of positive affect in the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being in the workplace

Abstract

Research focused on the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being has demonstrated inconsistent results with regards to the role of positive affect. Analysis of two samples established that positive affect was positively correlated with mindfulness and negatively correlated with perceived stress, while it was demonstrated to be a mediator in the initial sample. A second study with a larger sample with a more diverse participant recruitment strategy was conducted and positive affect was found to mediate found to mediate the relationship. Beyond identifying a possible issue of insufficient power in the first sample, there other possible limitations were identified, namely that the current dominant measure of affect to may not fully capture the applicable range of affect and positive affect may be more susceptible to issues of homogeneity than negative affect with regards to their impact on psychological well-being.