Different functions of the essential and nurturing elements of mindfulness training programs: the role of self-concept clarity

Mindfulness-based training programs have been found to provide numerous benefits, such as reducing stress, improving productivity, and enhancing interpersonal relationships. However, how these effects occur remains unclear. By referring to the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, one of the most widely used mindfulness training programs, we posit that an MBSR program consists of an essential attention training component and an additional nurturing component. The attention training component involves monitoring one’s breathing or focusing on the present, while the nurturing component of MBSR has two elements that enhance emotion regulation and other orientation, respectively. Furthermore, we posit that self-concept clarity explains the effects of MBSR training on emotion regulation and other orientations. We conducted two studies to test our theorization. Study 1 was an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for university students, and Study 2 was a time-lagged survey of full-time employees with meditation experience. The results of both studies showed that the attention training component can enhance self-concept clarity, which further influences training outcomes—moreover, the training outcomes aligned with the second part of the mindfulness training program. We also found that self-concept clarity was a crucial mediating mechanism that explains the effects of mindfulness training.