Sequential influences of emotion regulation and rumination in trait mindfulness-depression relationships.
Journal of Affective Disorders July 1, 2026 G. B. Maruthy, Lyndahl M. Himes, Nicholas A. Hubbard et al.
A survey of 1,000 undergraduates examined how trait mindfulness relates to depression symptoms through emotion regulation and rumination. Structural equation modeling showed that all mindfulness facets reduced depression symptoms sequentially via increased reappraisal and decreased brooding rumination. Additional pathways through reduced suppression, brooding, and reflective pondering appeared for the Describe, Act with Awareness, and Nonjudge facets. Meditation experience moderated the Nonreact facet's pathway: among those without meditation experience, nonreactivity was positively associated with brooding, reflective pondering, and depression via suppression, but these associations were absent in experienced meditators. The authors propose that emotion regulation and ruminative processes underlie mindfulness-depression relationships, with implications for tailored interventions.