A Component of Mindfulness: Attention

Abstract

The use of mindfulness-based interventions in many areas is increasing day by day. Having knowledge of the components of mindfulness is also important to know the mechanisms in which mindfulness-based interventions are effective. This study has aimed to examine potential attentional mechanisms of mindfulness. In this context, mindfulness has been defined and attention and attention models have been briefly discussed in the study. Then, the relationship between mindfulness and attention has been examined, and previous research findings examining mindfulness and attention are included. The studies on attention and mindfulness seem to have more inconsistent results when conducted with adults, whereas the studies in adolescents and children seem to have more consistent results revealing that mindfulness-based interventions improve the attentional skills of the youth. Knowing the relationship between mindfulness and attention will aid to maximize the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions and it will be a crucial step in identifying the people that might benefit from mindfulness-based interventions