Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been surging as an alternative to cognitive-behavioural therapy for perfectionism. Despite promising results, there are practical and theoretical concerns regarding high resistance from perfectionists towards developing mindfulness related capabilities. Se...

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Main Authors: João Paulo Teixeira Antunes, Saúl Neves de Jesus, Marta Brás, Cláudia Carmo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-07-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251351185
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author João Paulo Teixeira Antunes
Saúl Neves de Jesus
Marta Brás
Cláudia Carmo
author_facet João Paulo Teixeira Antunes
Saúl Neves de Jesus
Marta Brás
Cláudia Carmo
author_sort João Paulo Teixeira Antunes
collection DOAJ
description Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been surging as an alternative to cognitive-behavioural therapy for perfectionism. Despite promising results, there are practical and theoretical concerns regarding high resistance from perfectionists towards developing mindfulness related capabilities. Self-Determination Motivation could provide a pathway to circumvent this problem by mediating the relationship between mindfulness and multidimensional perfectionism. Ninety-three university students filled a questionnaire containing mindfulness, perfectionism and motivation measures. Thirteen participants were then included in an 8-week MBI. Intrinsic motivation mediated the effect between mindfulness and perfectionist concerns (indirect effect = −0.09). Perfectionist concerns and strivings were both reduced post-intervention ( p  = .002). There was also a significant intragroup increase in mindfulness ( p  ≤ .001), although there were no motivational changes. Current change mechanisms underlying MBI effectiveness do not support this approach as presenting unique advantages over other cognitive-behavioural approaches. Implementing explicit motivational change into MBI interventions could provide a pathway to differentiating MBIs from other alternatives.
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spelling doaj-art-72a940d575a24488be0a35fcb63ef7302025-08-20T02:46:28ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402025-07-011510.1177/21582440251351185Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and PracticeJoão Paulo Teixeira Antunes0Saúl Neves de Jesus1Marta Brás2Cláudia Carmo3 University Research Centre in Psychology (CUIP), University of Algarve, Faro, PortugalCreative University Research Centre in Psychology (CUIP), University of Algarve, Faro, PortugalCreative University Research Centre in Psychology (CUIP), University of Algarve, Faro, PortugalCreative University Research Centre in Psychology (CUIP), University of Algarve, Faro, PortugalCreativeMindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been surging as an alternative to cognitive-behavioural therapy for perfectionism. Despite promising results, there are practical and theoretical concerns regarding high resistance from perfectionists towards developing mindfulness related capabilities. Self-Determination Motivation could provide a pathway to circumvent this problem by mediating the relationship between mindfulness and multidimensional perfectionism. Ninety-three university students filled a questionnaire containing mindfulness, perfectionism and motivation measures. Thirteen participants were then included in an 8-week MBI. Intrinsic motivation mediated the effect between mindfulness and perfectionist concerns (indirect effect = −0.09). Perfectionist concerns and strivings were both reduced post-intervention ( p  = .002). There was also a significant intragroup increase in mindfulness ( p  ≤ .001), although there were no motivational changes. Current change mechanisms underlying MBI effectiveness do not support this approach as presenting unique advantages over other cognitive-behavioural approaches. Implementing explicit motivational change into MBI interventions could provide a pathway to differentiating MBIs from other alternatives.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251351185
spellingShingle João Paulo Teixeira Antunes
Saúl Neves de Jesus
Marta Brás
Cláudia Carmo
Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
SAGE Open
title Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
title_full Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
title_fullStr Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
title_full_unstemmed Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
title_short Self-Determination as a Mediator Between Mindfulness and Perfectionism in Theory and Practice
title_sort self determination as a mediator between mindfulness and perfectionism in theory and practice
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251351185
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