The Role of Spontaneous Mind-Wandering and Dispositional Mindfulness in Predicting Obsession Symptoms in the College Students

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of spontaneous or deliberate mind-wandering and dispositional mindfulness in predicting the obsession symptoms in college students. In a descriptive, correlated and tentative research, 391 students of Tabriz University were chosen and included in the inquiry via the available sampling method. The data were gathered using the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Mind Wandering Spontaneous (MW-S), Mind Wandering Deliberate (MW-D) self-report scales and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Pearson correlation-coefficient method and multiple regression were used to analyze the data simultaneously. Correlation results showed that the deliberate mind wandering (r=0. 19, P=0. 05) and spontaneous mind wandering (r=0. 64, P=0. 01) have positive and direct relationship with obsession symptoms, while the components of mindfulness, the components of observation (r=0. 11, P=0. 05 ،acting with awareness (r=-0. 41, P=0. 01), disrespect to inner experience (r=-0. 50, P=0. 01) and lack of reaction to inner experience (r=-0. 61, P=0. 01) have a negative and reverse relationship with obsession. The results from the concurrent regression analysis shows that from mind wandering components only spontaneous mind wandering variable (P<0. 01, β=0. 51) and from mindfulness components, only act with awareness, non-judgmental orientation to one’s present experience and non-reactive orientation to one’s present experience (β=-0. 20, β=-0. 22, β=-0. 41) can predict obsession symptoms. The findings of this research emphasized the role of spontaneous mind wandering and components of acting with awareness, non-judgmental orientation to one’s present experience and non-reactive orientation to one’s present experience in predicting obsession symptoms in the college students. These findings will be beneficial in explaining obsession symptoms and their etiology in the college students.