TY - JOUR

T1 - When it really counts

T2 - Investigating the relation between trait mindfulness and actual prosocial behavior

AU - Schindler, Simon

AU - Pfattheicher, Stefan

N1 - © The Author(s) 2021. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This work was supported by a Grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG; Grant ID SCHI 1341/2-1) to the first author.

PY - 2023/3/1

Y1 - 2023/3/1

N2 - Meta-analytical findings suggested a positive link between trait mindfulness and prosociality. However, most correlational studies on mindfulness and prosociality have relied on self-report measures. The present work aimed to address this serious limitation by investigating actual prosocial behavior. We further focused on mindfulness as a multi-dimensional personality trait to disentangle effects of different mindfulness aspects. In addition, we tested whether the relation between trait mindfulness and prosocial behavior emerges under a theoretical meaningful experimental boundary condition (i.e., feelings of guilt). In two studies (using four different samples; N = 1240), we did not find support for a positive link between trait mindfulness and (a) charitable donation and (b) behavior in an incentivized economic game, respectively. Evidence for manipulated guilt-level as a moderator was inconclusive. Taken together, the findings point to a more complex role of trait mindfulness for prosocial behavior. Limitations and ideas for further research are discussed.

AB - Meta-analytical findings suggested a positive link between trait mindfulness and prosociality. However, most correlational studies on mindfulness and prosociality have relied on self-report measures. The present work aimed to address this serious limitation by investigating actual prosocial behavior. We further focused on mindfulness as a multi-dimensional personality trait to disentangle effects of different mindfulness aspects. In addition, we tested whether the relation between trait mindfulness and prosocial behavior emerges under a theoretical meaningful experimental boundary condition (i.e., feelings of guilt). In two studies (using four different samples; N = 1240), we did not find support for a positive link between trait mindfulness and (a) charitable donation and (b) behavior in an incentivized economic game, respectively. Evidence for manipulated guilt-level as a moderator was inconclusive. Taken together, the findings point to a more complex role of trait mindfulness for prosocial behavior. Limitations and ideas for further research are discussed.

KW - Five facet mindfulness questionnaire

KW - Prosocial behavior

KW - Trait mindfulness

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106534154&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/17f27939-f732-3faf-bb73-1ae146f30cf2/

U2 - 10.1007/s12144-021-01860-y

DO - 10.1007/s12144-021-01860-y

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 34054263

AN - SCOPUS:85106534154

VL - 42

SP - 5357

EP - 5365

JO - Current Psychology

JF - Current Psychology

SN - 1046-1310

IS - 7

ER -