The impact of mindfulness and assertiveness on well-being: A structural equation modeling analysis

Abstract

Mindfulness is a positive psychological concept that has a crucial impact on individuals' wellbeing and mental health. The literature cites a considerable number of studies exploring the impact of mindfulness on various forms of wellbeing and documenting the relationship between mindfulness and other constructs. In order to obtain a complete understanding of the concept, an examination of potential mediators in the relationship between mindfulness and well-being is needed. In this regard, the current study aims to explore the influence of mindfulness on resilience, subjective wellbeing, and psychological well-being through assertiveness. In a sample of 400 university students, participants completed the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Psychological Well-being Scale (SPWB) and results demonstrated that assertiveness, mindfulness, positive affect, life satisfaction, and the dimensions of psychological well-being scores were found to be positively correlated with assertiveness and reversely associated with negative affect, as expected. Structural equation modeling analyses demonstrated that assertiveness mediated the relationship between mindfulness and resilience, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being. In conclusion, the results show that mindfulness contributes to some of the well-being indices, such as resilience, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being through assertiveness. Implications are discussed further.