Sequential influences of emotion regulation and rumination in trait mindfulness-depression relationships.
G. B. Maruthy, Lyndahl M. Himes, Nicholas A. Hubbard, Jeffrey S Spence, B. Rypma
Journal of Affective Disorders July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122331 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with structural equation modeling Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,000 |
| Population | Undergraduates |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Trait mindfulness facets reduce depression symptoms through sequential increases in reappraisal and decreases in brooding rumination, with meditation experience moderating the Nonreact facet's pathway via suppression. |
Abstract
Depression is a common mental health disorder affecting millions worldwide. Pharmacotherapies are partially effective, but numerous side effects often make them unfavorable. Recent investigations show that mindfulness meditation effectively mitigates depression-symptoms but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we examined the sequential influence of emotion regulation (ER) and rumination tendencies to explore trait mindfulness (TM) effects on depression-symptoms. 1000 undergraduates provided ratings on their depression-symptoms, mindfulness-experience, TM, ER strategy-use and rumination tendencies. Structural equation modeling was used to examine sequential influences of ER strategies and rumination tendencies on TM-depression relationships and how these mechanisms were moderated by meditation-experience. All TM facets showed sequential influences on depression-symptoms through increases in reappraisal and decreases in brooding rumination. Describe, Act with Aware and Nonjudge facets showed additional pathways including reductions in suppression, brooding-rumination and reflective-pondering. The Nonreact facet showed significant influence of meditation-experience on the mediation pathway through suppression. For individuals without meditation-experience there were positive associations between nonreactivity and brooding-rumination, reflective-pondering and depression-symptoms via suppression. These associations were absent in meditation-experienced individuals. Findings suggest the hypothesis that sequential influences of ER strategies and ruminative processes underlie TM-depression relationships and might have implications for how TM facets influence ER and rumination to promote or mitigate depression.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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and 18 more in the library