Awake bruxism and dispositional mindfulness: psychophysiological and behavioral correlates in a real-time ecological assessment

Abstract This cross-sectional study investigated the association between dispositional mindfulness and the frequency of awake bruxism (AB)–related behaviors assessed through ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and explored the contribution of specific mindfulness facets. Seventy-six undergraduate dental students completed the Brazilian version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and screening instruments for orofacial symptoms and parafunctional behaviors. Participants meeting screening criteria for AB underwent a one-week EMA protocol using the BruxApp, with 12 real-time prompts per day. Linear regression models were used to examine the association between dispositional mindfulness and EMA-derived AB frequency, with adjustment for sex, anxiety/depression, and coping. Higher total FFMQ scores were associated with lower AB frequency in the unadjusted analysis (β = −0.472; 95% CI − 0.906 to − 0.037; p = 0.034; R² = 0.236). After adjustment, the association was attenuated and became borderline (adjusted β = −0.70; 95% CI − 1.40 to 0.001; p = 0.050; adjusted R² = 0.285). At the facet level, Acting with Awareness and Nonreactivity showed inverse associations with AB frequency, whereas Observing was positively associated. Lower dispositional mindfulness was also associated with a higher prevalence of self-reported mandibular pain symptoms. Overall, dispositional mindfulness was associated with interindividual variability in EMA-derived AB frequency and pain symptom reporting under naturalistic conditions, although part of this association may reflect broader psychosocial factors.