Relationship between state mindfulness and working memory in children

Pages:310-312
Natesh B., Rajesh S.K. and H.R Nagendra (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore, Karnatka)

Mindfulness an individual becomes increasingly aware and attentive in the moment has been one of the main focuses of study within the positive psychology movement. The majority of this research has been conducted with adults. The current study aimed to establish the relationship between state mindfulness and working memory in children. Participants were 167 healthy school children (69 girls, 98 boys) who attended Personality Development Camp. Participants age ranged from 12 to 16 years with a mean age of 13.97 years (SD=1.03). The Corsi-Blocks task was used to measure of visuo-spatial Working memory. Further psychological states were measure using state mindfulness attention awareness scale and state anxiety inventory. State mindfulness had a large inverse and significant correlation with the State anxiety (r=−0.49, p<0.01) and a large positive and significant correlation with the Corsi forward (Forward Corrected r=0.35, p<0.01 and forward block span r=0.31, p<0.01). Further state mindfulness had significant positive correlation with Corsi backward (backward corrected r=0.26, p<0.01 and backward block span r=0.26, p<0.01). Higher-order cognitive processes appear to have positive relationships between mindfulness.