The association between anxiety and mindfulness while emphasizing the mediating role of attention control functions

Several studies showed that anxiety affects cognitive components, mainly working memory function, and mindfulness also may be affected by this factor.

This study aimed to investigate the association between anxiety and mindfulness while emphasizing the mediating role of attention control functions.

The correlational research method and the statistical population included all subjects referred to a counseling center and a painting school in Tabriz, a music school in Saqqez, and staff of Urmia University in 2021. Participants were selected using the convenience sampling method, yielding a total of 244 subjects. All subjects filled the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory (STAI) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Participants also responded to the tasks of Signal-Stop Task (2003) and N-Back Memory Test (1958). Data analysis was administered using SPSS-19 by descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., Pearson and Sobel correlation tests).

The results showed a significant association between trait anxiety (r=0.56, p<0.001), state (r=-0.50, p<0.001), and update component (r=0.22, p<0.001) with mindfulness, but there was no significant association between inhibition component (r=-0.001, p>0.001) and mindfulness. Also, the indirect effect of trait anxiety and state on mindfulness through inhibition and updating components was not significant.

This study demonstrated that trait-state anxiety has no significant association with mindfulness through attention control functions, and further studies using various tools are needed to investigate the effect of anxiety on cognitive functions.