Mindful Non-reactivity, Anxiety, Depression, and Perceived Stress as Mediators of the Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention: Pathways to Enhance Mental Health in University Students.
JMIR Mental Health May 13, 2025 Meysam Pirbaglou, Christo El Morr, Farah Ahmad et al. 2 citations
An 8-week online mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy program for students reduced depression, anxiety, and perceived stress while improving quality of life compared to a waitlist control. The intervention's benefits were partly explained by increased mindful non-reactivity—the ability to let thoughts and feelings pass without reacting—which then reduced anxiety and depression, which in turn lowered stress and improved quality of life. Direct effects showed depression scores dropped by 1.65 points, anxiety by 3.29 points, perceived stress by 2.28 points, and quality of life rose by 4.07 points, all statistically significant. The findings highlight mindful non-reactivity as a key mechanism driving improvements.