Unraveling the Boredom Paradox: How Mindfulness and Wisdom Moderate Extraversion’s Impact

Boredom is defined as the aversive experience of being disengaged from current activities or the environment, although the individual desires such engagement. Evidence regarding the quality and strength of the relationship between the extraversion-introversion spectrum and the boredom experience seems conflicting. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the nature or the strength of this relationship depends on mindfulness and wisdom, two constructs associated with emotional regulation, attention, and meaning-making. Mindfulness, by enhancing attention regulation and present-moment awareness, may help extraverts tolerate low-stimulation situations. Wisdom, understood as self-transcendence, may buffer disengagement by fostering meaning and reflective acceptance in otherwise unstimulating contexts. 204 adults participated in this study and completed the online questionnaires. Data collected, then, was employed for the moderation analysis. Results show that describing and nonjudging, two facets of trait mindfulness, moderated the relationship between extraversion and state boredom. High Extraversion predicted lower disengagement only when describing is high or nonjudging is average to high, while significantly predicting higher disengagement only when describing is very low. We propose that these effects are probably due to enhanced emotional regulation and attentional control and reduced negative attitude toward monotony.