Publication Date
Spring 2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Susan Snycerski; Sean Laraway; Glenn Callaghan
Abstract
High levels of happiness and well-being are important for many reasons including health, relationships, and work-life balance. Understanding what can increase happiness and well-being levels may be beneficial to create a happy, healthy life. Recently, meditation has become a popular practice to increase happiness and overall well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between meditation frequency and mindfulness, emotional regulation, happiness, and overall well-being. To add to existing literature meditation frequency and emotional regulation were each assessed in two ways: average meditation frequency per week, average meditation session length, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal. It was hypothesized that meditation frequency is positively related to mindfulness, emotional regulation, happiness, and overall well-being. Additionally, it was hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between mindfulness, emotional regulation, happiness, and overall well-being. To investigate these hypotheses, 147 participants completed an online survey that assessed these relationships. Results partially confirmed the hypotheses with statistically clear positive relationships being found between mindfulness and expression suppression, cognitive reappraisal, and happiness. In our sample, as mindfulness levels increased, so did happiness and the use of emotional regulation strategies of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal.
Recommended Citation
Inlow, Emily, "The Relationship Among Meditation Frequency, Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, and Happiness" (2024). Master's Theses. 5509.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.xykz-y4g8
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/5509
