Investigating Mindfulness, Borderline Personality Traits, and Well-Being in a Nonclinical Population

Abstract

A growing body of literature has revealed that mindfulness-based interventions consistently have positive outcomes, suggesting that increased mindfulness is related to decreases in psychological symptoms and increases in well-being. In a sample of 110 Mount Royal University undergraduate students, we explored the intercorrelations between mindfulness, borderline personality traits, and subjective well-being (SWB). We hypothesized a negative correlation between mindfulness and borderline personality traits, a positive correlation between mindfulness and SWB, and a negative correlation between borderline personality traits and SWB. To examine, a battery of questionnaire containing four measures was used: Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Five Facet of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Personal Well-being Index (PWI), and Borderline Personality Questionnaire—revised (BPQ). Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis results were consistent with our hypotheses. As predicted, higher degrees of mindfulness are associated with less borderline personality traits and greater well-being, whereas the presence of borderline personality traits is linked to lower degrees of well-being. The findings of the present study have significant clinical implications.