The Relationship between Mindful Awareness and Cognitive Performance among U.S. Military Service Members and Veterans

Abstract

Mindfulness training has been shown to reduce stress and improve performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and cognition in U.S. military service members and veterans (n = 236). Volunteers completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and two attention and memory measures: the running memory continuous performance task (CPT) and the standard continuous performance task (SCP). MAAS scores were negatively correlated with mean RT on both the CPT and SCP (r’s = -.14 and -.18, respectively, p < .05). FFMQ scores were positively correlated with correct responses (r = .15) and throughput scores (r = .14) on the CPT and negatively correlated with mean RT on the SCP (r’s = -.15, p < .05). Greater mindfulness was associated with better performance on two sustained attention tasks, suggesting mindfulness is linked with improved management of continuous information, without distraction or impulsive reaction.