American scientists from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that a person’s ability to be aware, that is, to concentrate on the present moment, is related to genetics. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Scientific Reports (SciRep).
It is believed that people with increased awareness find it easier to live in the moment, which makes them happier and more satisfied with life.
The team examined data from the Early Twin Development Study, which included information on more than 10,000 twin pairs born between 1994 and 1996.
The analysis sample included 1136 pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. The first couples had 100% of the genetic material in common, the second couples had about 50% of the genetic material in common.
Awareness was assessed using the Mindful Attention Scale (MAAS), which focuses on the perception of current events and experiences.
Consistent with previous results, the researchers found a modest but significant positive relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being.
Both mindfulness and subjective well-being were significantly influenced by genetic factors. The analysis showed that correlations of mindfulness, happiness, and life satisfaction were higher among monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins; This indicates a significant genetic contribution. Specifically, genetic influences explain 34% of the variance in mindfulness, 42% in happiness, and 57% in life satisfaction.
Previous scientists I learnedprocrastination appears to reduce awareness.