Predicting social adjustment based on mindfulness and emotion regulation in university students through panel data model

Background: Given the important role of social adjustment in improving mental health and quality of life among university students, we must analyze the factors affecting adjustment. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and emotion regulation with social adjustment in university students.

Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, the path analysis method was used with panel data to predict social adjustment based on mindfulness and emotion regulation in university students. The statistical population included all university students in Ahvaz (Iran) in 2022–23. Convenience sampling was employed to select 222 students (177 females and 45 males), who responded to different questionnaires on mindfulness, emotion regulation, and social adjustment at two points of time two months (8 weeks) apart.

Results: The findings indicated that mindfulness had a positive significant relationship with emotion regulation in university students (P<0.001). However, emotion regulation had no significant effect on students’ mindfulness. Moreover, there was no significant relationship between emotion regulation and social adjustment in the students.

Conclusion: According to the results, mindfulness can be employed to enhance emotion regulation in university students. Given the importance of social adjustment in the mental health and academic achievement of university students, future studies should analyze the relationships between other psychological variables and social adjustment.