Relationship between mindfulness and self-control in deaf individuals: mediating role of inner peace and moderating role of life experience

Background: Self-control is essential for individual health and well-being. The relationship between mindfulness and self-control has recently become a central focus of research. However, the dynamics of this relationship in deaf and hearing individuals remain underexplored. This study, based on the Cognitive Behavioral Theory, developed a moderated mediation model to examine the mediating role of inner peace and the moderating role of group type in the mindfulness-self-control relationship.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study used a sample of 121 deaf and 142 hearing college students. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted based on participants' responses to the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Peace of Mind Scale, and Belief Self-Control Scale.

Results: The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between mindfulness and self-control across both groups. Inner peace partially mediates the mindfulness-self-control relationship for both groups. However, group type moderates the mindfulness-inner peace-self-control pathway. Specifically, in hearing individuals, mindfulness bolsters self-control by enhancing inner peace, whereas in deaf individuals, this mediation effect is weaker, with their self-control not correlating with increased inner peace.

Conclusion: The results reveal that, despite shared psychological mechanisms in mindfulness and self-control between deaf and hearing individuals, the beneficial impact of inner peace on self-control is significantly lower in deaf individuals. This highlights the complex relationship shaped by diverse life experiences, underscoring the need for tailored interventions like mindfulness training to enhance positive emotions and self-control in deaf individuals.