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Mindfulness and personality: The six factor model

Conference Paper · May 2013

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Rebecca Shankland Caroline Cuny

Université Lumiere Lyon 2 Grenoble École de Management
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Mindfulness and personality: the six factor model
R. Shankland1 2, C. Cuny2, D. Steiler2

Introduction
Mindfulness practices are developing in many fields
with frequent positive results. However, scholars have
started to explore the impact and the interaction of per-
sonality traits and Mindfulness practices, as it appears
that some participants benefit more from Mindfulness
Based Interventions (MBIs) than others. Over thirty
studies have been reported on Mindfulness and perso-
nality traits relying on the five factor personality model
(Big Five). The results of the latest meta-analysis
(Giluk, 2009) revealed positive correlations between
Mindfulness and Extraversion (X: sociability, asser-
tiveness), Agreeableness (A: good-natured, coope-
rative, supportive, caring), Openness to Experience
(O: curiosity, broad-mindedness, imagination), and
Conscientiousness (C: dutifulness, order, self-discipline),
and negative correlations between Mindfulness and
Neuroticism (N: anxiousness, self-consciousness, inse-
curity). The extended personality model which has been
developed by Ashton and colleagues (HEXACO-PI-R;
Ashton et al. 2004) has modified this subscale and
named it Emotionality (E). Low E scores are generally
found in individuals who are not deterred by the prospect
of physical harm and feel little worry even in stressful
situations. Low E scores should therefore be more
frequent in Mindful participants. The sixth dimension
added in this model, called Honesty-Humility (non-
manipulating, fair, low materialism), was hypothesized
to be positively correlated with Mindfulness as a recent
review has underlined the role of Mindfulness in reducing
aggressive behaviors (Fix & Fix, 2013).

Aim of the study

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Mindfulness
and Ashton’s six factor model of personality. Following previous research,
we expected positive relations between Mindfulness and E, A, O, C, and
H factors, and negative relations between Mindfulness and the E factor.

Method
A sample of 217 first and second year Management and Psychology college students completed a questionnaire measuring Mindfulness
(CHIME: 37 items; Bergomi et al., 2013) and the six dimensions of personality (HEXACO: 60 items; Ashton et al., 2004).
Reliability of the CHIME was satisfactory (α = 0.79), as the original French validation study (Shankland et al., 2013). However, internal
consistency of certain HEXACO subscales was moderate (α = 0.60 - 0.71; see Table 1).

Results Table 1 : Mindfulness and personality correlations

As predicted, results indicated that Mindfulness was negatively HEXACO subscales Alpha Correlations with Mindfulness
Honesty-Humility (H) .71 Pearson’s correlation -.042
correlated with Emotionality Significance .552
(r = -.298, p<.01), and positively correlated with Extraversion (r =.269, Emotionality (E) .68 Pearson’s correlation -.298**
Significance .000
p<.01), Agreeableness (r =.194, p<.01), and Openness to Experience
Extraversion (X) .67 Pearson’s correlation .269**
(r =.200, p<.01). Significance .000
However, in this sample, the correlations with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness (A) .67 Pearson’s correlation .194**
Significance .006
Honesty-Humility were not significant (see Table1).
Conscientiousness (C) .64 Pearson’s correlation -.118
Significance .093
Openness to Experience (O) .60 Pearson’s correlation .200**
Significance .004

**Level of significance < 0.01

Discussion and perspectives

This study was the first investigation rela- Mindfulness. Hence the levels of Mindfulness
ting the HEXACO model to Mindfulness. reported did not imply a regular practice on
Our results showed that Mindful individuals the basis of which our hypotheses were

had higher X, A and O scores than other grounded. As underlined by Giluk (2009) in References
participants. Conversely, more Mindful par- her meta-analysis, the levels of conscien-
Ashton, M. C., Lee, K., Perugini, M., Szarota, P., de Vries, R. E.,
ticipants had lower E scores than other tiousness could be developed through the Di Blas, L., Boies, K., De Raad, B. (2004). A six-factor structure
participants, which highlights the potential self-discipline necessary for regular mediation of personality-descriptive adjectives: Solutions from psycholexical
enhancement of emotional regulation through practices. Further research should be carried studies in seven languages. Journal of Personality and Social
mindfulness practices. However, contrary to out using MBI experimental designs in order Psychology, 86, 356-366.
Bergomi, C., Tschacher, W., Kupper, Z. (2013).
our hypotheses, the correlations between H to clarify whether daily mindfulness practice Measuring mind fulness: First steps towards the development
and C subscales and Mindfulness were not shapes personality or personality shapes of a comprehensive mindfulness scale. Mindfulness, 4, 18-32.
significant. daily mindfulness practices, or whether both Fix, R. L., Fix, S. T. (2013). The effects of mindfulness-based
treatments for aggression: A critical review. Aggression and Violent
A possible explanation could be that the study are shaped by other factors which should be Behavior, 18, 219-227.
was carried out on a student sample, of which explored (Thompson & Waltz, 2007). Giluk, T. L. (2009). Mindfulness, Big Five personality, and affect: A
meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 805-811.
only very few participants had practiced Shankland, R., Strub, L., Cuny, C., Steiler, D., Vallet, F., Mondillon,
L., Lebarbenchon, E., Bergomi, C. (2013). French validation of
the Comprehensive Inventory of
Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME). Poster presentation, 1st
1
Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Psychologie, University Grenoble-Alpes, France. International Mindfulness Congress, Rome, 8-12 May 2013.
Corresponding author : rebecca.shankland@upmf-grenoble.fr Thompson, B. L., Waltz, J. (2007). Everyday mindfulness and mind
2
Chair in Mindfulness, Wellbeing at Work and Economic Peace, Grenoble Ecole de fulness meditation: Overlapping constructs or not? Personality
View publication stats Management, France. and Individual Differences, 43, 1875-1885.