Predictive Value of Mindfulness and Coping With Stress Styles on Depression, Anxiety and Stress Levels of Adults Who Stutter

Purpose: Increased depression, anxiety and stress symptoms are associated with reduced mindfulness levels and coping skills. This study primarily aimed to investigate (1) the relationships between mindfulness, coping styles, depression, anxiety and stress and (2) mindfulness and coping styles as predictors of depression, anxiety and stress in adults who stutter. A secondary aim was to compare mindfulness, coping styles, depression, anxiety and stress levels in adults who stutter according to stuttering severity.

Method: This exploratory study included 47 adults who stutter who completed a full online survey in Turkish to gather demographic information, mindfulness, coping styles, depression, anxiety and stress scores. Participants were interviewed remotely to assess their stuttering severity. The correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were applied.

Results: Significant positive relationships between depression and anxiety, depression and stress, and anxiety and stress scores were found. Mindfulness significantly explained 24.9% of the stress levels in adults who stutter, and helpless and submissive coping styles significantly explained 43.8% of the depression and 31.4% of the anxiety levels.

Conclusion: This study showed a correlation between elevated stress, anxiety and depression levels. Frequent use of passive coping mechanisms and lower mindfulness scores were found to be predictors of depression, anxiety and stress in adults who stutter. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject Stress, anxiety and depression are interrelated, with research revealing mixed findings regarding the relationship between stuttering and depression. However, stuttering is consistently associated with heightened anxiety levels, particularly state anxiety. Increased mindfulness has been linked to reduced stress, anxiety and depression, with studies indicating that individuals who stutter exhibit lower negative impacts of stuttering when mindfulness levels are higher. Additionally, coping strategies-whether active or passive-are associated with stress levels, with active coping correlating with more favorable outcomes. Research suggests that individuals who stutter and employ active coping mechanisms, such as seeking social support, manage stress more effectively. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study contributes to the literature by confirming the significant relationships between depression, anxiety and stress in adults who stutter and highlighting mindfulness and passive coping styles as predictors of these variables. Specifically, lower mindfulness levels and more frequent use of passive coping strategies were associated with higher depression, anxiety and stress levels. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? These findings suggest that individuals who stutter may benefit from interventions targeting mindfulness and active coping strategies to better manage stress, anxiety and depression, with implications for clinical practice.