Unpacking the role of psychopathology in the state-to-trait mindfulness transition: A longitudinal structural equation modeling study.
Journal of Affective Disorders November 1, 2026 Veronica L O'Brien, Nicolette P. Rickert
People with higher anxiety may find it harder to develop mindfulness through practice. A four-week online mindfulness course with 274 participants showed that previous mindfulness experience predicted higher starting state mindfulness, while baseline anxiety predicted higher starting state mindfulness but slower growth in state mindfulness over time. Growth in state mindfulness during the course predicted higher final levels of trait mindfulness. The findings suggest that anxiety can interfere with the benefits of mindfulness training.