UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Attention, mindwandering, and mood

Hobbiss, M; Fairnie, J; Jafari, K; Lavie, N; (2019) Attention, mindwandering, and mood. Consciousness and Cognition , 72 pp. 1-18. 10.1016/j.concog.2019.04.007. Green open access

[thumbnail of Hobbiss_Attention, mindwandering, and mood_AAM.pdf]
Preview
Text
Hobbiss_Attention, mindwandering, and mood_AAM.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (793kB) | Preview

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that mindwandering and external distraction are both manifestations of a common state of reduced attention focus, and examined how both relate to reported level of happiness. We conducted real-time sampling of people’s experience of mindwandering, irrelevant distraction (e.g. by music, phone, etc.), and happiness levels, in two studies with 524 people undertaking common daily-life activities. All irrelevant external distractions were positively correlated with mindwandering. Indeed mindwandering duration could be predicted from the reported duration of external distraction, when controlling for a range of background variables. An exploratory factor analysis of mindwandering and distraction reports suggested a single underlying construct. In addition, duration of irrelevant distraction by both mobile phones and mindwandering was significantly associated with reduced reported levels of happiness. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that that a state of reduced attention focus underlies both mindwandering and distractibility and clarify the link with happiness.

Type: Article
Title: Attention, mindwandering, and mood
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2019.04.007
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2019.04.007
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Attention focus, Irrelevant distraction, Mindwandering, Happiness, Mood
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10073349
Downloads since deposit
780Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item