Distress tolerance and decreased cognitive fusion tendencies explain the connection between mindfulness, posttraumatic growth and health-related quality of life among HIV patients.
Chinenye Joseph Aliche, Erhabor Sunday Idemudia
BMC Psychology February 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-04231-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 491 |
| Population | HIV patients randomly selected from a tertiary healthcare institution (mean age 31.41 years; 47% male, 53% female) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Hiv infections Cross-sectional studies Adaptation, psychological Stress, psychological Cognition Quality of life Adult Middle aged Female Posttraumatic growth, psychological Psychological distress Hiv patient Distress tolerance Cognitive fusion Positive psychological outcome |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was positively associated with posttraumatic growth (B = 0.57) and health-related quality of life (β = 0.79), and was indirectly associated with both outcomes through increased distress tolerance and reduced cognitive fusion. The authors argue that mindfulness may enhance quality of life and growth in people living with HIV via these mechanisms. |
Abstract
Background: Dispositional mindfulness is one psychological resource that consistently promotes posttraumatic growth (PTG) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the precise mechanisms through which mindfulness performs this function are not clear. The current study aimed to examine the mediating role of distress tolerance and cognitive fusion in the relationship between mindfulness, PTG and HRQoL among HIV patients.
Method: Using a cross-sectional design, 491 HIV patients (M age = 31.41; SD = 10.37; gender = 211 (47%) males; and 280 (53%)) females were randomly selected from a tertiary healthcare institution. Participants completed relevant measures.
Results: The results showed that mindfulness was positively associated with PTG (B = 0.57, p < .001), and HRQoL (β = 0.79, p < .001). Additionally, mindfulness indirectly promoted PTG (95%CI = 0.08, 0.20), and HRQoL (95%CI = 0.05, 0.13) through the mechanism of increased distress tolerance abilities. Furthermore, mindfulness indirectly improved PTG (95%CI = 0.02, 0.07); and HRQoL (95%CI = 0.02, 0.08) through the pathway of reduced cognitive fusion tendencies.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential benefit of mindfulness in enhancing quality of life and growth in people living with HIV (PLWH) by improving distress tolerance abilities and reducing cognitive fusion tendency. Therefore, psychological interventions aimed at improving positive psychological outcomes in HIV patients may focus on enhancing mindfulness.
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 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- The Serenity of the Meditating Mind: A Cross-Cultural Psychometric Study on a Two-Factor Higher Order Structure of Mindfulness, Its Effects, and Mechanisms Related to Mental Health among Experienced Meditators PLoS One October 16, 2014
- HIV Patients' Mindfulness Moderates How Death Anxiety and Depression Impact Life Quality. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying December 18, 2024
- Mindfulness training is associated with improved quality of life in female collegiate athletes. Journal of American College Health October 19, 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
and 1 more in the library