Is Mindfulness Makes You Happier?

A Happiness Study among Students

in UTAR Kampar Campus

By : N g u Yi H u i

S u p e r v i s o r : M r L o o i S i n g Ya n
Introduction
Background
o Happiness is always a main concern for human.

o Mindfulness is one of the factors affect happiness (Killingsworth &

Gilbert, 2010).
Background
o Mindfulness is a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s
experience without judgment (Davis & Hayes, 2011).
o Various aspects of Mindfulness (Brown & Ryan, 2003; Baer et al., 2006):
• Attention
• Awareness
• Describing
• Non-judging and etc.
Objective
o To examine the relationship between mindfulness and happiness
among students in UTAR Kampar campus.
o To investigate the relationship between mindfulness and academic
performance among students in UTAR Kampar campus.
Methodology
Questionnaires:
 Mindfulness
1. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)
2. Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)
• Observing
• Describing
• Acting with Awareness
• Nonjudging
• Nonreacting

 Happiness
1. Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)
 Mindfulness & Happiness Questionnaire Refined after Pilot Test
It e ms fo r Con st ruc t s N o . i n

No. in
Qu est i o n n ai re
M A A S
M AA S 1 - I b re ak o r sp i l t hi n gs b ec au se of c arel e ssn ess, n ot pa yi n g at t en t i on , o r t hi n ki n g of Q1
so me t hi n g el se .
M AAS 2 - It see ms I am " run ni n g o n au t om at i c, " wi t h ou t m uc h aw aren es s of wh at I'
m d o n
i g. Q2
M AAS 3 - I rus h t hro u gh a ct i vi t i es w t
i h ou t be n
i g re al l y a t e nt i ve o
t t he m. Q3
M AA S 4 - I ge t s o fo cus ed o n t h e go al I wan t o
t ach i ev e t ha t I l o se t ou ch wi t h wh at I'
m do ni
i ggrht Q4
n ow t o g e t t he re .

Items for Constructs

M AAS 5 - I do j ob s or t as ks au t om at i ca l y , w i h
t o ut be i ng a ware of wh at I'
m d o n
i g . Q5
M AAS 6 - I fi nd my sel f l i st en n
i g t o s om eo ne w t
i h on e ea r, d oi n g so me h
t i ng el se a t t h e sa me t i me . Q6
M AAS 7 - I fi nd my sel f pre oc cu p i ed wi t h t h e
fu t u re or t h e pa st . Q7
M AAS 8 - I fi nd my sel f do i ng t hi n gs wi t h o u t p ay i ng a t t en i
t o n . Q8

F F M Q- A ct i ng wi
t h A ware ne ss (A A )
AA 1 - W h en Id o t h i ng s, m y mi n d w and ers o ff an d I’m e asi l y d i st rac e
t d. Q1 2
AA 2 - I a m eas i y
l di st ra ct ed . Q1 5

Questionnaire
AA 3 - It se em s I am “ru n n n
i g o n a u t o m at i c” wi t ho ut m u ch aw a re n e ss o fw ha t I’m d o n
i g . Q1 8
AA 4 - I ru sh t h rou gh act i v i t e
i s w i t ho ut b ei ng re al l y a t t en i
t v e t o t h em . Q2 1

F F M Q- Non j ud gm en a
t l (NJ)
NJ 1 - I cri t i ci ze mys el f for h av n
i g i rra t o
i na l o r i na pp rop ri at e e mot i o ns . Q1 0
NJ 2 - I mak e j u dg men t s ab ou t whe t he rm y t ho u gh t s are g oo d o rb ad . Q1 6
NJ 3 - I t el l m ys el f t hat I sh ou l dn ’t b e t h n
i ki n g t h e way I’m t hi n ki n g. Q1 9
NJ 4 - I t hi n k so me o f my e mo i
t o ns a re b ad o r n
i ap p rop ri at e an d I sh ou l dn ’t f eel t he m. Q2 3
NJ 5 - I d i sa pp rov e of m yse l f whe n I ha ve i rra t o
i n al d
i ea s. Q2 6

F F M Q- Non rea ct (NR )

NR1 - Ip erc ei v e my fe el i n gs an d e mo t o
i n s wi h
t o ut ha vi n g t o re act t o t h em. Q1 1
N R2 - Iw a t ch m y fe el i n g s w i t h ou t g et t i ng l ost i n t h em. Q1 4
N R3 - W h e n I ha ve d i s t res si n gt h ou g h t s o r i m a ge s, I “ st ep b ac k” a nd am a ware o f t he t h ou gh t or Q1 7
i ma ge w i h
t o ut ge t i
t n g t ak en o v er by i t .
NR4 - W he n I ha ve d i st res si ng t h ou g ht s o ri m age s I am a bl e j u st t o no t i ce t he m wi t h ou t re act i n g. Q2 2

MAAS
F F M Q- Obs erv e (Ob )
Ob 1 - W h en I’m wa l ki n g, Id el i b era e
t l y no t i ce t h e sen sa i
t o ns o f my b o dy m ov i ng . Q9
Ob 2 - W h en I t ak e a sh o wer o rb at h , I st ay al ert t o t h e sen sa i
t o ns o f wat e ro n m y b od y. Q1 3
Ob 3 - I n ot i ce t h e sme l l s an d aro ma s of t hi n gs . Q2 0
O b 4 - I n ot i ce v i su al el em ent s i n art or
n at ure , s uch as c ol or s, sh ap es , t ex t ure s, o r pa t e
t rns o f l g
i h t a nd Q2 4
sh ad o w .
Ob 5 - I p ay a t e nt i o n t o h ow m y em ot i o ns af fect my t ho ug ht s a nd b eh av i or. Q2 5

S WL S
S W L S1 - In mo st wa ys my l i fe i s cl os e t o my d
i ea l . Q2 7
S W L S2 - T he c on di t i o ns o fm yl fe
i are e xce l l en .
t Q2 8
S W L S3 - Ia m sa t s
i fi ed wi t h my l i fe. Q2 9

MAAS1 - I break or spill things because of carelessness, not paying attention, or thinking of Q1 FFMQ - Observe (Ob)
something else. Ob1 - When I’m walking, I deliberately notice the sensations of my body moving. Q9
MAAS2 - It seems I am "running on automatic," without much awareness of what I'm doing. Q2
Ob2 - When I take a shower or bath, I stay alert to the sensations of water on my body. Q13
MAAS3 - I rush through activities without being really attentive to them. Q3
MAAS4 - I get so focused on the goal I want to achieve that I lose touch with what I'm doing right Q4 Ob3 - I notice the smells and aromas of things. Q20
now to get there. Ob4 - I notice visual elements in art or nature, such as colors, shapes, textures, or patterns of light and Q24
MAAS5 - I do jobs or tasks automatically, without being aware of what I'm doing. Q5 shadow.
MAAS6 - I find myself listening to someone with one ear, doing something else at the same time. Q6
Ob5 - I pay attention to how my emotions affect my thoughts and behavior. Q25
MAAS7 - I find myself preoccupied with the future or the past. Q7
MAAS8 - I find myself doing things without paying attention. Q8
SWLS
FFMQ - Acting with Awareness (AA) SWLS1 - In most ways my life is close to my ideal. Q27
AA1 - When I do things, my mind wanders off and I’m easily distracted. Q12
SWLS2 - The conditions of my life are excellent. Q28
AA2 - I am easily distracted. Q15
AA3 - It seems I am “running on automatic” without much awareness of what I’m doing. Q18 SWLS3 - I am satisfied with my life. Q29
AA4 - I rush through activities without being really attentive to them. Q21 SWLS4 - So far I have gotten the important things I want in life. Q30
SWLS5 - If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing. Q31
FFMQ - Nonjudgmental (NJ)
NJ1 - I criticize myself for having irrational or inappropriate emotions. Q10
NJ2 - I make judgments about whether my thoughts are good or bad. Q16
NJ3 - I tell myself that I shouldn’t be thinking the way I’m thinking. Q19
NJ4 - I think some of my emotions are bad or inappropriate and I shouldn’t feel them. Q23
NJ5 - I disapprove of myself when I have irrational ideas. Q26

FFMQ - Nonreact (NR)

NR1 - I perceive my feelings and emotions without having to react to them. Q11
NR2 - I watch my feelings without getting lost in them. Q14
NR3 - When I have distressing thoughts or images, I “step back” and am aware of the thought or Q17
image without getting taken over by it.
NR4 - When I have distressing thoughts or images I am able just to notice them without reacting. Q22

FFMQ - Observe (Ob)

Ob1 - When I’m walking, I deliberately notice the sensations of my body moving. Q9
Ob2 - When I take a shower or bath, I stay alert to the sensations of water on my body. Q13
Ob3 - I notice the smells and aromas of things. Q20
Ob4 - I notice visual elements in art or nature, such as colors, shapes, textures, or patterns of light and Q24
shadow.
Ob5 - I pay attention to how my emotions affect my thoughts and behavior. Q25

SWLS
SWLS1 - In most ways my life is close to my ideal. Q27
SWLS2 - The conditions of my life are excellent. Q28
SWLS3 - I am satisfied with my life. Q29
Data Collection
Respondents: 250 students from UTAR Kampar campus
(60 removed, 190 remain)
Survey Items:
• Demographic Data - gender, faculty, range of academic performance
• Mindfulness & Happiness Questionnaire Refined
Sampling Method: through google form online
Data Analysis
Two statistical methods:
1. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
2. Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

observing

describing

acting
with
awareness
Happiness

non
reacting

non
judging

Platform: SmartPLS 3
Artificial Neural Network (ANN)

MAAS1

MAAS2

SWLS
MAAS3

NJ5

Platform: Python 3
Discussion & Conclusion
 Demographic profile of respondents
Demographic Profile Frequency Percentage
Gender Female 124 65.26%
Male 66 34.74%
Race Chinese 181 95.26%
Indian 5 2.63%
Malay 4 2.11%
Faculty Faculty of Business and Finance 82 43.16%
  Faculty of Science 35 18.42%
  Faculty of Information and Communication Technology 28 14.74%
  Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology 15 7.89%
  Faculty of Arts and Social Science 12 6.32%
  Centre for Foundation Studies 12 6.32%
Institute of Chinese Studies 6 3.16%
CGPA Range 1.5 - 2.4 31 16.32%
2.5 - 3.4 127 66.84%
3.5 - 4.0 32 16.84%
Data Exploration
o Female are more mindful and happier than male in overall

Mindfulness level by Gender Happiness level by gender

4.5 4.19
4.5
4.0 3.88
4.0 3.87
3.68
3.5
3.5

Average SWLS score

3.01 3.00 3.0
3.0
Avaerage score

2.5
2.5
Female
2.0
2.0 Male
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.0
0.0 Female Male
MAAS Score FFMQ Score
Gender
Mindfulness
Data Exploration
o For male, increase in CGPA leads to higher happiness

Happiness level in different CGPA group

4.5 4.27 4.25
4.15 4.14
4.0 3.90
3.68
3.5
Average SWLS score

3.0

2.5
Female
2.0 Male

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
CGPA 1.5 - 2.4 CGPA 2.5 - 3.4 CGPA 3.5 - 4.0
CGPA range
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
Two Models:
1. Happiness Model
(Mindfulness → Happiness)

2. Academic Model
(Mindfulness → Academic Performance)
SEM Result
Happiness Model

o Significant Factors:
• Awareness (MAAS)
• Nonreact (FFMQ-Nonreact)
• Observe (FFMQ-Observe)
SEM Result
Academic Model

o Significant Factors:
• Awareness (MAAS)
• Nonjudging (FFMQ-Nonjudmental)
Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
Two Models:
1. Mindfulness → Happiness
2. Mindfulness → Academic Performance
 ANN Result
o Parameter Selected:
  Hidden Layers Neurons in Layers Epochs

Mindfulness → Happiness 2 26→5→4→1 3

Mindfulness → Academic Performance 2 26→12→5→1 7

o MSE & MAE:

  Test MSE Test MAE

Mindfulness → Happiness 0.0320 0.1380

Mindfulness → Academic Performance 0. 0988 0.1981

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