Assessing the mindfulness predictors of mental health: does mindfulness practise or dispositional mindfulness better protect young peoples' mental health?
Guste Juozelskyte, Jon Catling
Health psychology and behavioral medicine 2024 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2024.2305723 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 190 |
| Population | First-year university students |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Wellbeing |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Dispositional mindfulness, but not mindfulness practice, significantly predicted mental health scores. |
Abstract
University is an important time in a young person's life. Although it is a time of exploration, self-discovery and socialising, it is also a time of increased vulnerability to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that engagement in mindfulness activities can have a positive effect on mental health. However, research is limited in its scope in particular in relation to stressful (transitional) periods of life. The current study aims to address this issue by providing evidence on the predictive impact of both mindfulness practice and 'dispositional' (or trait) mindfulness on students' mental health. In total, we gathered data from 190 first-year students. A multiple regression was utilised for data analysis. This showed that 'dispositional' mindfulness, but not mindful activity had a significant impact on mental health scores. This provides data for future research into the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for student adaptation to university and potential interventions.
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
Cited by 4
- Dispositional mindfulness profiles and psychological symptoms: a latent profile analysis. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Mindful Student Musicians Use Deliberate Practice Techniques and Report Lower Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Mindfulness August 27, 2026
- The efficacy of mindfulness based interventions in mitigating stress and fostering enhanced mindfulness among higher education students. The Journal of general psychology June 25, 2026
- Childhood trauma and anxiety symptoms among Chinese university students: the moderating and mediating roles of mindfulness. BMC Psychology January 31, 2026
Cites 11
- 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
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Feasibility of a Brief Online Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Intervention to Promote Mental Health Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic Mindfulness May 17, 2021
and 6 more in the library