From Stress to Cognitive Failures: A Serial Mediation Chain

Abstract

High levels of perceived stress are widely recognized to impair attentional functioning, increasing susceptibility to everyday cognitive lapses; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain insufficiently understood, particularly in the Indian context. The present study addresses this gap by examining the sequential mediating roles of mindful attention awareness and mind-wandering in the relationship between perceived stress and cognitive failures. A correlational research design was employed with a sample of Indian adults (N = 466; M = 254, F = 212, 18-55 yrs) and data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Mind Wandering Questionnaire, and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. Serial mediation analysis with bootstrapping was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Results indicated that perceived stress was positively associated with cognitive failures and mind-wandering, and negatively associated with mindful attention awareness. Further, a significant serial mediation effect was observed, wherein higher perceived stress predicted lower mindful attention awareness, which in turn increased mind-wandering, ultimately leading to greater cognitive failures. These findings highlight attentional regulation as a key mechanism linking stress to cognitive failures and suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may be effective in reducing cognitive failures in population experiencing high-stress level.