Mindfulness and trauma recovery among internally displaced individuals: the mediating role of distress tolerance in a cross-sectional mediation model
Aamer Aldbyani, Afnan Alhimaidi, Zhang Chuanxia
Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1677965 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 321 |
| Population | Yemeni internally displaced persons |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Moderated mediation Posttraumatic stress Emotional distress Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Psychological distress Posttraumatic growth |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | All facets of mindfulness were positively associated with distress tolerance and trauma recovery, and distress tolerance partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and trauma recovery. |
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness has gained increasing attention for its role in fostering emotional regulation and psychological resilience. In contexts of displacement and trauma, mindfulness may be associated with improved adaptive coping and recovery. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships among mindfulness, distress tolerance, and trauma recovery in internally displaced individuals, with a focus on the mediating role of distress tolerance.
Methods: A sample of 321 Yemeni internally displaced persons completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5).
Results: Analysis revealed that all facets of mindfulness-observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-reactivity, and non-judgment-were positively associated with both distress tolerance and trauma recovery. Mediation models indicated that distress tolerance partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and trauma recovery.
Conclusion: These findings indicate the potential value of including mindfulness and distress-tolerance components in interventions for internally displaced populations.
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 9
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Burnout and Perceived Stress among Muslim Students: A Quasi-experimental Approach Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal May 20, 2023
- Effect of Mindfulness Dhikr Breathing Therapy for Insomniacs on Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal June 26, 2023
- Distress tolerance as a mechanism of mindfulness for depression and anxiety: Cross-sectional and diary evidence International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology July 5, 2023
- The independent roles of mindfulness and distress tolerance in treatment outcomes in dialectical behavior therapy skills training. Personality disorders May 1, 2020
and 4 more in the library