Examining the Cultural Consensus on Beliefs About Mindfulness Among US College-Attending Young Adults

Mindfulness programs are increasingly popular on college campuses in the US, yet little is known about students’ perceptions and beliefs mindfulness: its origins, how it learned, functions, practitioners. Using methods from Cultural Consensus Theory (CCT), present study examined whether a cultural consensus mindfulness exists among this group what substantive content of that might be. College-attending young adults aged 18–25 (Study 1, N = 275—convenience sample; Study 2, 210—national sample) completed questionnaires mindfulness, exposure to demographics. Data were analyzed using CCT-derived Bayesian cognitive psychometric model. Hypotheses for 2 pre-registered. Young converged was replicated across both studies. Participants consensually agreed Buddhist origin; spiritual (but not religious) secular; can be an antidote suffering gives one competitive edge business; practiced more by women, less Conservatives. They also viewed as practice people their age learn, universal practice, limited older, wealthy, or White people. Prior related agreement with consensus. The identified suggest American amongst views accessible, learnable, able relieve suffering, interest women Conservatives, incorporating secular origins aims.