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Category: Project

Description: Numerous studies have confirmed the robust relationship of mindfulness and character strengths with well-being independently, yet no many studies have looked at mindfulness in the framework of VIA classification. This set of two studies examined the relationships of mindfulness and character strengths in one cross-sectional study (Study 1: N = 1335), and one intervention study (Study 2: N = 42). In Study 1, participants completed validated assessments of mindfulness and character strengths, and the relationship of the two were investigated in a broad online sample. Results confirmed the positive relationships among mindfulness and character strengths, and further indicated a list of character strengths that could be overlapping with mindfulness, i.e., creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, bravery, perseverance, zest, love, social intelligence, forgiveness, self-regulation, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope and spirituality. In Study 2, the effects of a mindfulness training on specific character strengths according to the preliminary insights from Study 1 were investigated. By using a randomized control design, the findings provided further support for the notion that mindfulness training could have an impact on the cultivation of certain character strengths. The strengths of curiosity, perspective, bravery, zest, love, appreciation of beauty, gratitude and spirituality were increased after an eight-week mindfulness training. The results indicated initial evidence for the mutual support model of mindfulness and character strengths.