Sensory Processing Styles and Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to live in the moment with an open mind and attention to the present.   In order to  live in the moment, one must be able to bring attention and awareness to all of the sensory, cognitive, and emotional aspects of the current experience.   Focused breathing, meditation and yoga are a few examples of how one can practice mindfulness.

The British Journal of Occupational Therapy published research examining the relationship between mindfulness and sensory processing
styles.   Since mindfulness involves paying attention to the sensory components of daily experiences, it would be expected to vary across sensory processing styles. For example, sensory styles characterized by reduced awareness of sensory inputs would be expected to be associated with less mindfulness during daily experiences.  The study included 151 healthy individuals ranging in age from 18-60.  Each participant completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale – Revised (CAMS-R) and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP).  The results indicated the following:

1. low registration sensory processing style was negatively correlated with both measures of mindfulness.
2. sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding processing styles were also negatively correlated with mindfulness, but only in the frequency of mind wandering episodes.
3. sensory seeking style did not significantly correlate with either mindfulness measure.
4. increased low registration, sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding scores significantly predicted mind wandering and distraction.

In summary, “aspects of mindfulness associated with attention and awareness were significantly negatively related to sensory processing
patterns associated with passive behavioral strategies (low registration and sensory sensitivity)”.

Reference:  Karen R Hebert. The association between sensory processing styles and mindfulness. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 0308022616656872, first published on July 18, 2016 doi:10.1177/0308022616656872

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