Mindfulness as a mediator and moderator in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depression
Haley McKeen, M. Hook, Purnaja Podduturi, Emily Beitzell, Amelia Jones, M. Liss
Current Psychology June 21, 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02003-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 279 |
| Population | University students |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | The describe, aware, and non-judgement facets of mindfulness mediated the relationship between ACEs and depression; the aware facet also moderated it, such that high awareness eliminated the increase in depression with more ACEs. |
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a variety of negative physical and psychological health outcomes. The mechanisms by which this occurs and potential protective factors present in this relationship are understudied. Mindfulness is a cognitive resource that may protect individuals against symptoms of psychological distress. It has five core facets and encourages a nonjudgmental acceptance of the present moment. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of mindfulness in the relationship between ACEs and depression, both as a mediator and as a moderator, or protective factor. We hypothesized that the aware, describe, and non-judgement facets of mindfulness would be key factors in both sets of analyses. Participants at a university ( N = 279) were given the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACES), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) to measure depression. Results indicated that the describe CI [.02, .11], aware CI [.05, .17], and non-judgement CI [.06, .18] facets of mindfulness significantly mediated the relationship between ACEs and depression. Additionally, the aware facet of mindfulness was also a significant moderator in this relationship, [ t (interaction) = −3.22, p < 0.01], such that individuals with a high level of awareness had no increase in depression even as the number of ACEs increased. Negative cognitions associated with ACEs may harm one’s ability to effectively describe their feelings and to be fully aware of the present moment, which may contribute to symptoms of depression. Implications for mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Relative Impact of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Resilience on Mental Health Outcomes in Racially Minoritized Adults. Psychological Reports November 16, 2023
- The Associations Between Deviation From the Balanced Time Perspective and Depression and Anxiety: The Moderator Role of Mindfulness in a Two-Wave Study Psychological Reports May 19, 2025
- Trait mindfulness buffers depersonalization symptoms among young adults exposed to childhood abuse Frontiers in Psychology July 9, 2026
- Mindfulness, fantasia e depressão: um estudo de mediação Revista Psicologia em Pesquisa August 27, 2023
Cites 5
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