Loneliness is a global health threat linked to depressive symptoms. Mindfulness moderates this relationship: when mindfulness levels are low, loneliness is more strongly associated with depressive symptoms; higher mindfulness buffers this association. Among 220 Chinese adults, mindfulness significantly predicted depressive symptoms after accounting for demographics and loneliness. Encouraging mindfulness practices may offer public health benefits, though further research is needed to test whether mindfulness-based programs can prevent the mental health consequences of loneliness.
Nightmare disorder often persists over time and is linked to broader mental health problems. In a longitudinal study of 230 Hong Kong Chinese adults assessed twice over about six months, two-thirds (66.7%) of those with probable nightmare disorder at the start still met diagnostic criteria at follow-up. Those with the disorder were far more likely to screen positive for PTSD (82.1% vs. 18.3%) and used mental health services more often. Greater nightmare severity at baseline predicted worse subsequent self-rated mental health, lower self-esteem, and more PTSD symptoms. The findings suggest nightmare disorder is not merely a transient symptom but a persistent condition with public health implications.