Faculty Advisor
Dr. Andrew Jarosz
Faculty Advisor Email
afj62@msstate.edu
Abstract
The aim of this literature review is to understand the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on training attention control skills. Relevant resources were identified through academic databases by entering keywords such as “attention” and “mindfulness training”. Preference was given to recent publications to ensure the inclusion of up-to-date research findings. Three main factors that influence training efficacy emerged from the literature: Reducing mind wandering, increasing acceptance, and lifting mood and affect. Review of empirical findings suggested that mindfulness does contribute to enhancing attentional abilities, although findings are somewhat inconsistent. Mind wandering and acceptance were important moderators in this effect, while no strong evidence was found in regard to mood and affect. Current gaps, limitations of the findings, and recommendations have also been discussed. Ultimately, this review contributes to the understanding of the current state of research on the link between attention and mindfulness.
Recommended Citation
O'Brien, Ingrid E.; Barrett, Kent W.; and Altunisik, Berna Ms
(2026)
"How Mindfulness Training Influences Attention: A Systematic Review,"
Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/3071-012X.1015
Available at:
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/endeavors/vol2/iss1/2
