The relationship between trait level mindfulness and coping in stressful situations

One area of study within the coping literature concerns how characteristics of people influence the ways in which they cope. Mindfulness is one such characteristic. Research has already shown that some facets of mindfulness are relevant to coping. The present study examined whether higher levels of the mindfulness facets of acting with awareness. nonjudgment, and nonreactivity are related to choice of coping method in a student sample. Specifically. it was hypothesized that these facets would be related to the endorsement of the coping strategies positive reinterpretation and growth, confrontive coping, and avoidance coping. Results showed that participants who used avoidance coping showed lower levels of acting with awareness and nonjudgment. Positive reinterpretation and growth was related to higher levels of the mindfulness facet acting with awareness. Confrontive coping was not related to any of the mindfulness facets.