In a cross-sectional analysis of 169 racially minoritized adults aged 18 to 64, self-compassion, resilience, and certain facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, nonreactivity) predicted lower depression; self-compassion, resilience, and nonreactivity predicted lower anxiety and stress; and only self-compassion predicted greater satisfaction with life. Self-compassion was the only trait that consistently predicted all four psychological outcomes. The findings suggest that self-compassion may be especially important for promoting positive mental health and reducing distress among adults from racially minoritized communities, who face healthcare disparities and underrepresentation in research.
A nine-week school-based mindfulness program, combined with cross-course curriculum material, helped at-risk high school students build social-emotional resilience over a semester. Students attending a transfer school designed for those who had dropped out or fallen behind showed improvements in self-reported attention control, trait anxiety, coping, and emotion regulation. Those who also participated in the science curriculum component tended to have better academic performance. The findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions delivered in school settings can promote positive outcomes for youth with reduced access to social, mental health, and educational support.