Unraveling the Interplay among Meta Cognition, Mind Wandering, Mindful Attention Awareness and Cognitive Failure: A Moderated Mediation Approach

Abstract

Everyday cognitive failures can impair effective functioning and may reflect difficulties in self-regulation and attentional monitoring. Although metacognitive awareness has been linked to better cognitive control, limited research has examined the mechanisms through which it reduces cognitive failures, particularly in the Indian context. The present study investigated whether mind wandering mediates, and mindful attention awareness moderates, the relationship between metacognitive awareness and cognitive failure among Indian adults (N= 466; M=254, F=212; 18–55 years). Participants completed the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Mind Wandering Questionnaire, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Moderated mediation analysis revealed that greater metacognitive awareness predicted fewer cognitive failures partly through reduced mind wandering, with this protective indirect effect becoming stronger at higher levels of mindful attention awareness. Findings further suggest that metacognitive awareness alone may be insufficient for effective attentional regulation without present-moment awareness, highlighting mindfulness as an important attentional platform for reducing everyday cognitive errors.