Publication date: January 2020
Source: New Ideas in Psychology, Volume 56
Author(s): Austin Gordon, Adena Young-Jones, Shannon Hayden, Sophie Fursa, Bailey Hart
Abstract
Multiple countries have examined dispositional mindfulness, perceived social support, and psychological well-being within their own populations. However, no cross-cultural comparisons of these constructs have been pursued. The present study aimed to address this gap by analyzing these variables across two countries. University students from the Netherlands and the midwestern United States completed a survey, which assessed their perceived social support, their mindfulness awareness, and their basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, and competence). Results indicated that Dutch students endorsed higher levels of dispositional mindfulness and basic psychological needs than midwestern American students. A connection between mindfulness levels and perceived parental support appeared in both cultures. Limitations of this study and future research areas are discussed.