Mindfulness, dialectical self-esteem, and health behaviors in college students

A review of literature examined how mindfulness is associated with health behaviors and dialectical self-esteem (DSE). Specifically, an investigation of the relationship between levels of mindfulness and physical activity, diet, and dialectical self-esteem sought to identify any significant correlations among the variables while considering the covariates, gender, ethnicity, grade-level, and socioeconomic status. This study examined the association between levels of mindfulness, dialectical self-esteem (DSE), and health behaviors, including physical activity and dietary behavior. The sample consisted of 146 college students from a large, western U.S. university and were distributed across gender, ethnicity, grade level, and socioeconomic status. An online survey method was employed for data collection and a quantitative correlational research analysis was used. Measures included the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the International Physical Activity Scale - Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Dietary Behavior Scales (DBS), and the Dialectical Self-Esteem Scale (DSS). Results were inconsistent with the existing literature indicating an association between mindfulness and positive health behaviors exists. There was no significant relationship between the predictor variable, mindfulness, and the outcome variables, dietary behavior and physical activity. There was, however, a significant negative relationship between mindfulness and Body Mass Index (BMI), and findings supported the inverse association predicted between mindfulness and dialectal self-esteem.