Buffering the impact of childhood adversity: moderated moderation effects of mindfulness and psychological capital on social functioning among women in Kerala
Gopika Satish, Navin Kumar
European Journal of Psychotraumatology April 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2026.2646756 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 139 |
| Population | Adult women in Kerala, India |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | ACEs and mindfulness did not independently predict impaired social functioning, but the three-way interaction of ACEs, mindfulness, and PsyCap was statistically significant, accounting for an additional 5% of variance (ΔR2 = .05). The authors argue that high levels of both mindfulness and PsyCap together mitigate the negative impact of ACEs on social functioning. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences are well-known risk factors that impair adult social functioning. Internal psychological strengths, such as mindfulness and psychological capital (PsyCap), may buffer these impacts among adult women in Kerala, India. However, studies exploring the role of these resources remain scarce and underexplored.
Objective: The present study explored the moderating effect of mindfulness and PsyCap in the association between ACEs and social functioning among adult women in Kerala, India.
Method: This research used a cross-sectional approach. A total of 139 adult women completed validated measures of ACEs, mindfulness, PsyCap, and social functioning. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and moderation analysis were performed using SPSS Version 25 and the PROCESS macro (Model 3).
Results: ACEs and mindfulness did not independently predict impairment in social functioning. Elevated levels of both mindfulness and psychological capital (PsyCap) together mitigated the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The three-way interaction involving ACEs, mindfulness, and PsyCap was statistically significant, accounting for an additional 5% of the variance in social functioning impairment (ΔR2 = .05).
Conclusion: The results highlighted the importance of integrated trauma-responsive programmes that promote both mindfulness and PsyCap.
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 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness in cultural context Transcultural Psychiatry August 1, 2015
- The Role of Mindfulness in Reducing the Adverse Effects of Childhood Stress and Trauma Children February 28, 2017
- Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and Silva-based Relaxation Therapy on Psychological Capital, Social Anxiety, and CD4+ Count in People Living with HIV in Iran. Current HIV research 2025
- Mindfulness Moderates the Relation Between Trauma and Anxiety Symptoms in College Students Journal of American College Health September 13, 2018
and 2 more in the library