The Mediating Role of Precepts and Meditation on Attachment and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents.
Justin DeMaranville, Tinakon Wongpakaran, Nahathai Wongpakaran, Danny Wedding
Healthcare July 3, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131923 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with parallel mediation analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 453 |
| Population | Thai boarding-school students in 10th-12th grade from five schools (two Buddhist, three secular) |
| Topics | Anxiety Buddhism Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Thai Adolescent Attachment Avoidance Boarding Precept |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Attachment anxiety and avoidance had significant indirect effects on depressive symptoms through meditation practice and precept adherence, with meditation showing a larger indirect effect than precept adherence. |
Abstract
Research shows that Buddhist precept adherence (i.e., abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicant use) and meditation practice influence mental health outcomes. This study investigated how Buddhist precept adherence and meditation practice influenced the relationship between insecure attachment and depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents. A total of 453 Thai boarding-school students from 10th-12th grade were recruited from five boarding schools (two purposively selected Buddhist schools and three conveniently selected secular schools). They completed these tools: Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-revised-18, Outcome-Inventory-21: Depression Subscale, Precept Practice Questionnaire, and Inner-Strength-Based Inventory: Meditation. A parallel mediation model analyzed the indirect effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on depression through precept adherence and meditation practice. The participants' demographics were 16.35 ± 0.96 years, 88% female, and 89.4% Buddhist. The mean scores for attachment anxiety were 2.7 ± 1.1; attachment avoidance, 2.78 ± 1.2; overall regular precept adherence, 20.1 ± 4.4; regular but not daily meditation, 2.94 ± 1.3; and low depressive symptoms, 3.75 ± 3.4. The standardized indirect effects for attachment anxiety (β = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.022, 0.070) and avoidance (β = 0.024, 95% CI = 0.009, 0.046) on depressive symptoms through meditation and precept adherence were significant. Meditation practice had a significantly higher indirect effect size than precept adherence.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Meditation Moderates the Relationship between Insecure Attachment and Loneliness: A Study of Long-Term Care Residents in Thailand. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) April 11, 2024
- Synergistic effects of Buddhist five precepts and death contemplation on inner strengths and mental health in elderly Thai meditators. BMC Psychology December 8, 2025
- A comparative study of the impact of meditation and Buddhist five precepts on stress and depression between older adults and younger adults. Scientific Reports May 6, 2025
Cites 5
- The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention BioMed Research International 2015
- Meditation‐based lifestyle modification in mild to moderate depression—A randomized controlled trial Depression and Anxiety March 21, 2022
- Mindfulness Meditation Leads To Increased Dispositional Mindfulness And Interoceptive Awareness Linked To A Reduced Dissociative Tendency Journal of Trauma & Dissociation June 2, 2021
- Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators. Behavioural Brain Research January 1, 2019
- The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Orientation and Mindfulness: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Mindfulness December 1, 2017