Mindfulness, psychological well-being, and rock climbing: An exploration of mindfulness in rock climbers and the potential for psychological benefit

In recent years, there has been significant research interest that focuses on the benefits of mindfulness to physical health, psychological well-being, and in the clinical improvement to psychological symptoms. As a result, numerous mindfulness-based therapies were developed to address psychological complaints; within these therapies the teaching of meditation as a mindfulness skill has become a primary method to help promote therapeutic change. However, this movement has largely overlooked the value of studying whether activities other than meditation can influence levels of mindfulness. In response, the current study examined whether rock climbing as an activity promoted both mindfulness, and improvements to psychological well-being. This study also examined whether changes in mindfulness are correlated with changes in psychological well-being. In the study, 114 rock climbers were surveyed using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS), and a demographic and rock climbing experience questionnaire. Findings from this study suggested that rock climbers were significantly higher in reported mindfulness (MAAS M = 4.01, p = .00), positive affect (PANAS PA M = 3.73, p = .00), and life satisfaction (SWLS M = 5.36, p = .00) than the normative population. On the other hand, rock climbers were also significantly higher in reported negative affect (PANAS NA M = 2.12, p = .01) when compared to the normative sample. Increases in mindfulness for rock climbers were significantly related to both positive affect and negative affect; however, they were not significantly related with life satisfaction. The amount of time spent rock climbing each month was associated to significant increases in positive affect; however, it was not associated with increases in life satisfaction or decreases in negative affect. Additionally, rock climbers endorsed enjoyment, challenge, exercise, connection with nature/outdoors/universe, and present moment focus as their top five motivations for rock climbing. Implications and future directions are discussed.