Mindfulness, Tolerance of Ambiguity, and Attitudes Toward Interracial Relationships

Abstract

This investigation considered the relationship among attitudes toward interracial relationships, tolerance of ambiguity, and mindfulness using a correlational design. The exploratory research question was: Does a tolerance of ambiguity plays a role in the acceptance of interracial relationships? Adult participants (N = 253) between the ages of 18 and 78 included male, female, and genderqueer adult individuals in the United States. Participants were recruited through online advertisements. They responded to items on a demographic questionnaire, along with four assessment instruments measuring mindfulness (MAAS), tolerance for ambiguity (MSTAT-II), attitudes toward interracial relationships (ATID), and cognitive load (WPM). The key finding in this study was that level of mindfulness was positively related to the level of tolerance for ambiguity (p < .001). However, no significant relationships among mindfulness, cognitive load, or attitudes toward interracial relationships were found. Results for the variable measuring attitudes toward interracial relationships was heavily skewed in the negative direction, indicating a very accepting group, which influenced the nature of data analysis.