Differential effects of mindfulness and grit on positive mental health outcomes in major depressive and bipolar disorders: A moderation analysis using an ecological momentary assessment approach.
Joyce Xu Hao Jin, Heidi Ka Ying Lo, Iris Wai Tung Tsui, Ting Kin Ng, Ka Fai Chung, Suet Ying Yuen, Fiona Yan Yee Ho, Corine Sau Man Wong, Chit Tat Lee, Chun Yin Poon, Kayla M Teopiz, Christine E. Dri, Roger S McIntyre
Journal of Affective Disorders July 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119969 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort with ecological momentary assessment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 88 |
| Population | Persons with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and healthy controls |
| Duration | Two-week observation period |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Bipolar disorder Grit Positive mental health |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Lower negative affect enhanced the positive association between mindfulness and meaning in life in MDD, while higher grit buffered against negative affect's impact on pleasure attainment in BD. |
Abstract
Holistic management of persons living with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) invites the need for evaluation of positive mental health (PMH; pleasure attainment and meaning-in-life), alongside conventional measures of psychopathology. The aforementioned dimensions of PMH involve aspects of mindfulness and grit. Herein, we evaluate these aspects using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach. This study investigated how positive psychological traits interact with negative affect (NA) to affect PMH in persons with MDD (n = 29), BD (n = 29), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 30). Self-reported NA, pleasure attainment, and meaning-in-life were captured five times a day during a two-week observation period. Mindfulness and grit were assessed using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and Grit-Scale-Short, respectively. Moderation and simple-slope-analyses were conducted. A total of 4632 EMA observations were made. Moderated-moderation-analyses indicated significant differences between groups. Lower NA levels significantly potentiated the mindfulness-life meaning relationship in the MDD group (b = -0.315, p = .037), but not in BD and HC. Meanwhile, higher grit levels significantly attenuated NA's negative impact on pleasure attainment in the BD (b = 0.247, p = .034), but not in the MDD/HC group. The use of trait measurements limited direct state comparisons. Lower NA levels augmented the positive effects of measures of mindfulness on life-meaning in MDD. Higher grit levels mitigated against reduction in pleasure attainment due to NA in BD. Our results underscore the complex interactions between measures of positive psychological traits and PMH in MDD and BD.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Resting-state fMRI functional connectivity and mindfulness in clinical and non-clinical contexts: A review and synthesis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews February 22, 2022
- The Effect of Mindfulness Training on Proactive and Reactive Cognitive Control Frontiers in Psychology June 20, 2018
- A virtuous cycle between meaning in daily life and state mindfulness as well as the unique role of depression among young adults: A diary study. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being August 1, 2024
- Mindfulness on Rumination in Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 1, 2022
and 5 more in the library