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A consensus is emerging among the researchers that mindfulness is associated with better physical health and psychological well-being. The present study attempts to explore the posstible role of positive and negative affectivity in explaining the relationship between mindfulness and health. One hundred undergraduate and post-graduate students (52 male and 48 female) were assessed on selfreport measures of mindfulness, positive/negative affectivity and mental illness/distress. Analysis revealed that most of the dimensions of mindfulness as well as the total score of mindfulness were correlated positively with positive affect and negatively with different dimensions of mental illness/ distress and negative affect. Further, positive affect correlated significantly and negatively with the dimensions mental illness/distress whereas negative affect correlated positively with the same. Though, most of the dimensions of mindfulness correlated significantly with mental illness/distress as well as positive/negative affect, the findings of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 'acting with awareness' dimension of mindfulness emerged as the best predictor of mental illness/distress. Further, in predicting negative affect 'describe' dimension of mindfulness emerged as best predictor followed by non-judgment of inner experiences. Positive affect was best predicted by 'describe' dimension of mindfulness followed by reactivity to inner experiences. To examine the mediational role of positive/negative affect in mindfulness-mental illness relationship a mediation analysis was earned out. Findings revealed that the negative affect and not the positive affect significantly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and mental illness/distress. The results have been discussed in the light of available empirical researches.
Key Words: Mental health, Well-being, Positive and Negative Affect, Mindfulness
Mental - health, well-being and happiness have been a major concern for human beings from very initial days of their existence. In recent years, this issue has drawn attention and interest of researchers to explore modifiable psychosocial factors that promote optimal mental health and well-being of an individual. Researches on well-being have produced a plethora of scientific literatures on different correlates and mechanisms of overall health and well-being. But as far as the modern wellbeing research trend is concerned, researchers focus more on those correlates which can be modified and/or developed within an individual through practices and efforts. The construct of mindfulness is of great interest in this regard, because oriental meditation practices particularly Buddhism provides methods of cultivating...