Abstract
The concept and practice of mindfulness has existed for thousands of years but has more recently been examined and utilized in psychological research and interventions. To date, there is robust empirical evidence to support its utility in enhancing neuropsychological outcomes pertaining to mood and cognition, in addition to benefitting overall health. These effects have been observed in individuals across the lifespan, and have been shown to correlate with trait mindfulness, which represents the degree to which a person is mindful. Research has further demonstrated that trait mindfulness is a relevant factor when examining the health and neuropsychological benefits of physical activity and exercise, such that it may play moderating and/or mediating roles. Although traditional paper-and-pencil measures have demonstrated utility in assessing psychological functioning associated with trait mindfulness, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may be more sensitive. There is also evidence to suggest that trait mindfulness may be impacted by EMA. However, less is known about the interactions of trait mindfulness, physical activity and EMA in older adults. This doctoral dissertation examined the neuropsychological role and malleability of trait mindfulness in the context of physical activity and EMA, in a sample of healthy older adults. Chapter 2 investigated the malleability of trait mindfulness in response to physical activity, and what role this may play in the relationship between physical activity and neuropsychological outcomes. Chapter 3 examined the extent to which engagement in EMA may alter trait mindfulness and how this may indirectly impact neuropsychological functioning (i.e., through mediation); further, sensitivity of EMA in detecting associations between psychological outcomes and trait mindfulness was explored. Chapter 2 results showed that older adults who underwent an 8-week remote physical exercise training program did not make significantly more gains in trait mindfulness than the control group. Reported physical activity did not significantly predict gains in trait mindfulness, and trait mindfulness did not moderate or mediate the relationship between physical activity and neuropsychological outcomes. Trait mindfulness did not significantly predict adherence to the exercise program. According to Chapter 3 results, EMA adherence did not significantly predict changes in trait mindfulness. EMA-measured mood also did not correlate more strongly with trait mindfulness compared to mood measured with traditional questionnaires, but gains in trait mindfulness were associated with greater EMA-measured anxiety and lower traditionally measured anxiety. Higher trait mindfulness was also associated with less variability of EMA-measured anxiety symptoms. Lastly, trait mindfulness did not significantly mediate the relationship between EMA adherence and neuropsychological outcomes relating to mood and cognition, though indirect effects demonstrated a relationship between gains in trait mindfulness and improved cognitive test performance in attention, working memory, and shifting. Results suggest that in healthy older adults, trait mindfulness may not be malleable in response to physical activity and EMA. Trait mindfulness also may not play a significant role (i.e., moderating or mediating) in neuropsychological outcomes relating to physical activity and EMA. However, relationships exist that suggest a role for trait mindfulness in emotion awareness and stability, as well as in aspects of improved cognitive performance.
