The association of mindfulness on psychological distress among Chinese university students: a culturally contextualized investigation.
Frontiers in Public Health June 23, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1828163 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 432 |
| Population | Undergraduates from four Chinese universities |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was negatively associated with psychological distress (β = –0.34), with the link weaker under high academic pressure and stronger under high family expectations. Resilience and cognitive reappraisal jointly mediated the association (total β = 0.71), and effects varied by gender and academic discipline. The authors argue the relationship is culturally contingent and that interventions should combine personal training with environmental support. |
Abstract
Introduction: Mindfulness training benefits psychological well‑being, but its mechanisms in culturally specific contexts (e.g., Chinese university students facing academic pressure and family expectations) remain poorly understood.
Methods: Cross‑sectional stratified random sampling of 432 undergraduates from four Chinese universities. Standardized scales measured mindfulness, psychological distress, resilience, emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression), social support (instrumental, emotional, informational), academic pressure, and family expectations. Analysis used hierarchical regression, SEM, and moderated mediation.
Results: Mindfulness negatively correlated with psychological distress ( β = –0.34, p < 0.001). This correlation was moderated by academic pressure (weaker under high pressure) and family expectations (stronger under high expectation). Resilience and cognitive reappraisal showed synergistic mediation (total β = 0.71). Effects varied by gender and academic discipline.
Discussion: The mindfulness‑distress relationship is culturally contingent. Interventions should be locally tailored, combining personal training with environmental support.
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 4
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- 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
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology April 1, 2010