An exploratory analysis of the role of mindfulness in decision-making

Abstract

Decision-making is a cognitive process with implications into psychological well-being. Mindfulness, in its turn, encompasses several cognitive processes that can potentially increase awareness of decision outcomes patterns and improve decision-making competency. This research proposed to analyse the relationship between mindfulness measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and decision outcomes measured by the Decision Outcome Inventory, while also controlling for the reasoning ability assessed by the Relational Ability Index. The main aim was to identify if levels of mindfulness would be positively correlated with decision outcomes. Results did not indicate for a statistically significant correlation between the variables, concluding that levels of mindfulness collected from the sample population, is not correlated with their decision outcomes. It was neither considered to be statistically significant the relationship between levels of mindfulness and regular practice. The findings of this research are controversial. Future research is encouraged to test similar hypotheses using different measurements.