Trait mindfulness buffers depersonalization symptoms among young adults exposed to childhood abuse
Frontiers in Psychology July 9, 2026 Farah A. Mili, Emily K. Lindsay
Childhood abuse is linked to depersonalization symptoms in young adults, but trait mindfulness—especially the tendency to accept present-moment experience without judgment—may weaken that link. Among 81 participants aged 18–29, childhood abuse was associated with depersonalization. However, those with high overall mindfulness showed a much weaker association. The buffering effect was strongest when participants reported both high observation of experience and high nonjudgmental acceptance. In contrast, those who observed their experience without accepting it still showed a strong abuse-depersonalization connection. Acceptance alone also reduced the link. The findings suggest that mindfulness, particularly its accepting quality, may protect against depersonalization after trauma.