The Role of Mindfulness on The Relationship Between Personality Factors and Cognitive Failures: A Mediation Study

Abstract

Cognitive failures such as minor lapses in perception, memory and action are common in daily life. Several factors including personality and mindfulness are instrumental in bringing about individual differences in cognitive failures. Personality factors might be indicative of these slips. The present research aims at exploring the association between personality factors and cognitive failures, and the mediating role of mindfulness. The sample consisted of 419 participants between the age range of 18 to 74years (M= 29.06 years, SD = 12.55) and were assessed on personality factors, cognitive failures and mindfulness. Findings from hierarchical regression analysis suggest that the personality factors and mindfulness account for 29.2 % of variance in cognitive failures. On the other hand, mediation analysis of mindfulness on the relationship between personality factors and cognitive failures suggest that mindfulness is a partial mediator for the relationship between extraversion and cognitive failures; and a complete mediator for the relationship between neuroticism and cognitive failures. This study has attempted to further the understanding of the interactions between personality traits and mindfulness, and their consequent impact on cognitive failures in the adult Indian population.