States of Mindfulness: Combining Whole-Trait Theory and Dynamical Systems Theory 

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Abstract:

How do individuals differ in their states of mindfulness over time? Does an individual’s average mindfulness change over time? This research aims to study these questions in a Whole Trait Theory framework using a dynamical systems approach. In this presentation, we will first introduce the key ideas of Whole Trait Theory, as it applies to mindfulness. We will discuss how the dynamical modeling framework can be used to study propositions from Whole Trait Theory via applied examples. One of them will be multiburst data (3 bursts, 1 week of measurements each) on self-reported mindfulness experiences from 129 participants. For this, we will introduce a 3-level Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model to examine propositions from a Whole Trait Theory approach of mindfulness. To conclude, the benefits of using a dynamical systems approach for a conceptualization such as mindfulness will be discussed.