A cross-sectional study on the influence of emotion regulation strategies on the association between trait mindfulness and suicidality
Inken Höller, Judith Martens, Christina Fönschau, Thomas Forkmann
BMC Psychology April 5, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02530-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional online study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 376 |
| Population | Adults aged 18-77, predominantly female |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive reappraisal Expressive suppression Suicidal ideation Clinical psychology Mediation Dysfunctional family Rumination Psychological intervention Cognition Association psychology Psychotherapist Poison control Suicide prevention |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation, and expressive suppression, thought suppression, and cognitive reappraisal each mediated this relationship. |
Abstract
Background: Several risk factors for suicidality, including dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies (ERS), have been identified. With regard to the high number of suicides worldwide, suicide prevention and identifying potentially protective factors is of high relevance. Mindfulness has been discussed to positively influence both suicidality and ERS (e.g., expressive suppression, thought suppression, and cognitive reappraisal). The aim of this study was to examine associations between mindfulness, ERS, and suicidal ideation as well as the mediating role of ERS on the association between mindfulness and suicidal ideation.
Methods: In a cross-sectional online study, 376 participants (M = 27.35, SD = 9.98, range = 18-77; n = 282 (75%) female) filled out questionnaires on mindfulness (Freiburger Questionnaire on Mindfulness; FFA), suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation; BSS), expressive suppression (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; ERQ), thought suppression (White Bear Suppression Inventory; WBSI), and cognitive reappraisal (ERQ). Correlations and mediation models were calculated using SPSS.
Results: Mindfulness was negatively correlated with the use of expressive suppression and thought suppression as well as positively correlated with cognitive reappraisal. Suicidal ideation was negatively correlated with mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal and positively with expressive suppression and thought suppression. The mediation models showed that all three ERS mediated the relationship between mindfulness and suicidal ideation.
Conclusions: The results meaningfully complement other findings in the field and show how promising it can be to integrate mindfulness-based interventions in suicide prevention. Additionally, ERS can be a starting point for therapeutic interventions.
Trial Registration: The study was preregistered on 05/06/2022 at aspredicted.org (#96242) prior to any data collection (see https://aspredicted.org/a4yq7.pdf ).
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
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources PLoS Biology May 4, 2007
- Clarifying the construct of mindfulness in the context of emotion regulation and the process of change in therapy. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing relapse in recurrent depression: A randomized dismantling trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 3, 2013
- Mindfulness‐Based cognitive therapy for prevention of recurrence of suicidal behavior Journal of Clinical Psychology December 9, 2005
and 7 more in the library