Nonattachment is about how we relate to experiences: enjoying, caring and pursuing goals without needing to cling to a particular outcome. It is not the same idea as becoming indifferent or avoiding relationships.
This research asks how nonattachment differs from mindfulness and how it relates to mental health, compassion and prosocial behaviour. Some studies follow adolescents over time; others examine measurement or bring together existing theory.
The scale work is important because related ideas are not automatically interchangeable. Full and short forms serve different purposes, so identify the measure version rather than reporting only that nonattachment was assessed.
Begin with the theory review and the distinction from mindfulness, then read the longitudinal and peer-report studies. For measures and practice resources, the main home of this work is non-attachment.com.
Reviews harmful and healthy ways of pursuing comfort, approval, competence, status and control.
Examines how nonattachment and mindfulness are related but distinguishable.
Follows nonattachment and mental health across adolescence.
Studies nonattachment and empathy alongside peers’ reports of prosocial behaviour.
Summarises the Nonattachment Scale, its versions and measurement evidence.
Examines adolescent self-compassion profiles and the role of nonattachment.
Coauthors in this selection include Baljinder K. Sahdra, Keong Yap, Madeleine I. Fraser, Philip D. Parker, Steven C. Hayes, Domonkos File. Full author lists appear on the linked paper pages.
Cite the specific paper that supports the point you are making, rather than this reading guide. Starting references:
Ciarrochi, J., Hayes, S. C., File, D., Brown, K. W., Yap, K., Fraser, M. I., Hernandez, C., Hill, D., Hayes, L., Ong, C. W., & Sahdra, B. (2026). From experiential attachment to nonattachment: A theory-informed review of harmful and healthy pursuits of comfort, approval, competence, status, and control. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 39, 100971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100971
Sahdra, B., Ciarrochi, J., & Parker, P. (2016). Nonattachment and mindfulness: Related but distinct constructs. Psychological Assessment, 28(7), 819–829. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000264
Ciarrochi, J., Sahdra, B. K., Yap, K., & Dicke, T. (2020). The Role of Nonattachment in the Development of Adolescent Mental Health: a Three-Year Longitudinal Study. Mindfulness, 11(9), 2131–2139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01421-7