Passion and mindfulness: Accessing adaptive self-processes

Abstract

The goal of this research was to examine passion as a determinant of mindfulness. Three studies were conducted based on the premise that harmonious passion (HP) provides access to adaptive self-processes, such as mindfulness, whereas obsessive passion (OP) limits such access. In Study 1 (n = 301), results revealed that HP and OP positively and negatively predicted mindfulness, respectively. Study 2 (n = 459) aimed at replicating results from Study 1 and explored the mediating role of mindfulness in the passion–affect relationship. Results uncovered that HP and OP, respectively, predicted positively and negatively mindfulness that, in turn, positively predicted positive affect and negatively predicted negative affect. These results were replicated in Study 3 (n = 176) while incorporating a time lag in the design. Vitality was also included in the model and was positively predicted by mindfulness. Findings underscore the facilitative role of HP in accessing adaptive self-processes, such as mindfulness.

Keywords:

• Harmonious passion
• obsessive passion
• mindfulness
• positive affect
• negative affect
• vitality

Notes

1. A MANOVA was conducted to confirm if significant differences existed between our final sample of passionate fans and the non-passionate fans removed from the analysis on all variables observed in Study 3. A significant multivariate effect was found, Wilks’ λ = 0.50, F (6, 388) = 3571.07, p < .001, η² = 0.50, followed by significant univariate effects for HP, F (1, 393) = 370.83, p < .001, η² = 0.44, OP, F (1, 393) = 20,876, p < .001, η² = 0.33, mindfulness, F (1, 393) = 2.34, p < .001, η² = 0.02, subjective vitality, F (1, 393) = 24.36, p < .001, η² = 0.06, positive affect, F (1, 393) = 14.96, p < .001, η² = 0.04, and negative affect, F (1, 393) = 12.72, p < .001, η² = 0.03.