The relationship between mindfulness and depression: examining the chain mediating role of shyness and core self-evaluation.
Lin Liu, Hailing Jia, Baiyang Qiu, Anbang Zhang, Qian Zhang
BMC Psychology April 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02774-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with chain mediation model Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 646 |
| Population | College students in China |
| Topics | Meditation Depression |
| Keywords | Core self-evaluation Depressive symptoms Shyness |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness is associated with lower depressive symptoms through sequential mediation by shyness and core self-evaluation. |
Abstract
There is evidence to suggest that individuals with the personality trait of shyness are more prone to depression, and a possible key factor in the process of shyness leading to depression is core self-evaluation. Given the prevalence and cross-cultural nature of shyness in humans, it is crucial to understand the factors that reduce shyness, enhance core self-evaluation, and ultimately lower depression. This study aims to examine whether mindfulness affects depression through sequential pathways involving shyness and core self-evaluation. We adopted a two-phase sampling method, recruiting an initial sample of 646 college students (Sample 1). We conducted a questionnaire survey using the Chinese version of the Five Factor Mindfulness Scale, the revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale, the Core Self-Evaluation Scale, and the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II. We constructed a chain mediation model to examine the relationship between mindfulness and depressive symptoms, with shyness and core self-evaluation as mediating variables. Subsequently, based on Sample 1, we purposively selected a subsample of 269 college students with higher shyness scores (Sample 2) and re-examined the chain mediation effect. Higher levels of mindfulness were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, and this relation was mediated through shyness and core self-evaluation. These results highlight that mindfulness can influence depression through the sequential pathway of shyness and core self-evaluation, and the importance of considering mindfulness practices in psychological interventions to help college students, especially shy college students, to reduce their shyness levels, improve core self-evaluation levels, and ultimately prevent and/or treat their depressive symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors August 28, 2006
- Mindfulness and Counseling Self‐Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Attention and Empathy Counselor Education and Supervision September 1, 2009
and 9 more in the library