Mindfulness Attention Awareness of People: A Study from Kerala State, India
Abstract:
Objective: This study was undertaken to analyse the mindfulness attention awareness of people and their charac teristics, which are influencing it.
Methodology: The study was undertaken among a randomly selected sample of 200 people from Kerala State of India using a questionnaire containing the measure of mindfulness attention awareness and the characteristics of the respondents, namely, sex, age, marital status, whether experienced any psychological problems during the previous six months, and whether experienced lack of much attention to things during the previous six months. The data was analysed as scores, proportion and through statistical test.
Results: The results show that a very high proportion of respondents under the study have high level of mindful ness attention awareness. During the previous six months, high level of mindfulness attention awareness has been experienced by them related to the items, namely, not finding it difficult to stay focused on what is happening, not doing something without paying attention to it, not getting preoccupied with the future or the past, not doing things automatically without being aware of what was being done, and not rushing through things without being really attentive to it. Women have experienced more of mindfulness attention awareness than men during the pre vious six months, with statistically significant difference in their mindfulness attention awareness scores. Statisti cally significant difference in the total mindfulness attention awareness scores of the respondents based on their marital status is observed, with unmarried people getting a higher score indicating more of mindfulness attention awareness than married respondents. The statistical significance of the difference in total mindfulness attention awareness scores indicates that those who experienced psychological problems during the previous six months are having a comparatively lower mindfulness attention awareness than those who did not face such problems. Respondents who experienced the problem of lack of much attention to things during the past six months have comparatively lower mindfulness attention awareness score than those who did not face such a problem, with sta tistically significant difference in the scores. However, statistical significance of the difference in total mindfulness attention awareness score of the respondents based on their age was not observed in the study.
Conclusion: Academicians and researchers should conduct studies on various psycho-social aspects related to people so that informed decisions can be taken based on the outcome of such studies by individuals as well as in stitutions to promote better mental wellbeing in the society. This appears to be relevant, given the fact that today’s world is full of problems, uncertainties and consequent anxiety faced by many people in their lives.
