Mindfulness and self-compassion in trauma-related adjustment among adult women: a three-wave multi-regional study.
Siqun Zhan, Dingfan Zhang, Yifan Ou
Frontiers in Psychology May 29, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1716193 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort (three-wave online survey) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 240 |
| Population | Trauma-exposed adult women from eastern and western China |
| Duration | Three waves (T1 to T2 follow-up) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Dissociation Depressive symptoms Adult women Self-compassion PTSD Symptoms |
| Key findings | Mindfulness and self-compassion were each negatively associated with PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, dissociation, and overall trauma symptoms, and independently predicted lower symptom levels, including at follow-up. Western participants reported higher PTSD and overall trauma symptoms than eastern participants. Although trauma severity interacted with both resources, the authors report that the interaction patterns did not support a classical buffering effect, suggesting these resources are meaningful but context-dependent. |
Abstract
Trauma-related distress in adult women often extends beyond posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to include depressive symptoms and dissociation, yet the roles of mindfulness and self-compassion across these symptom domains remain insufficiently clarified. This study examined mindfulness and self-compassion as psychological resources associated with trauma-related symptoms among trauma-exposed adult women using a three-wave online survey design. The final sample included 240 women from eastern and western China. Mindfulness was operationalized through observation, acting with awareness, and non-reactivity, whereas self-compassion was measured through self-kindness, common humanity, and reduced self-criticism. Trauma-related distress was assessed through PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, dissociation, and an overall trauma symptom index. Results showed that mindfulness and self-compassion were negatively associated with all three symptom domains and independently predicted lower PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, dissociation, and overall trauma symptoms. Baseline mindfulness and self-compassion also significantly predicted lower subsequent symptom levels at T2. Regional differences were more evident in symptom burden than in psychological resources, with western participants reporting higher PTSD and overall trauma symptoms. Although trauma severity significantly interacted with both mindfulness and self-compassion, the interaction patterns did not support a classical buffering effect. Overall, mindfulness and self-compassion appear to be meaningful but context-dependent psychological resources in women's trauma-related adjustment.
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 11
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- A Scoping Review of Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Communities of Color. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine February 1, 2025
- Adaptation of a mindfulness-based intervention for trauma-exposed, unhoused women with substance use disorder. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy December 1, 2024
- Embodied Resilience: A Quasi-Experimental Exploration of the Effects of a Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Curriculum in Carceral Settings. International Journal of Yoga Therapy March 1, 2024
and 6 more in the library