A sequential mediation model of perceived social support, mindfulness, perceived hope, and mental health literacy: An empirical study on Taiwanese university students.
Chih-Cheng Lo, I-Chen Chen, Wei-Sho Ho, Yao-Chung Cheng
Acta Psychologica September 18, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with mediation analysis Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 568 |
| Population | University students from 70 Taiwanese universities (205 males, 363 females, average age 20.97) |
| Measures | Perceived Social Support Scale, General Health Questionnaire, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, State Hope Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Students Universities Female Young adult Perceived social support Mental health literacy Perceived hope Sequential mediation model |
| Key findings | Perceived social support was directly associated with mental health literacy (B = 0.120) and indirectly associated with it through mindfulness and perceived hope (B = 0.091, 95% CI: 0.0613 to 0.1258). The authors argue that mindfulness and hope act as mediators, with the model explaining 33.9% of the variance in mental health literacy. |
Abstract
This study explored the mediation of mindfulness and perceived hope between perceived social support and mental health literacy in university students. Of 568 students (205 males, 363 females, average age 20.97) from 70 Taiwanese universities, tools like the Perceived Social Support Scale, General Health Questionnaire, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and State Hope Scale were used, adapted to Traditional Chinese through back-translation. Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed model validity. Hayes' PROCESS Model 6 analyzed the data. The results showed an indirect effect of social support on mental health literacy via mindfulness and hope (B = 0.091, 95 % CI: 0.0613 to 0.1258). Three mediation paths were: (1) mindfulness (B = 0.035); (2) hope (B = 0.052); and (3) a combined effect (B = 0.003). A direct effect of social support on mental health literacy was significant (B = 0.120). The model explained 33.9 % of the variance in mental health literacy. The research underscores the link between social support, mindfulness, hope, and mental health literacy, identifying mindfulness and hope as mediators. It stresses the mediation impact and suggests strategies to boost mental health literacy in university students. Future research should expand to cross-cultural studies, further examine the evolving dynamics of social support, and incorporate both qualitative and experimental methodologies. The inclusion of factors such as alienation, well-being, and resilience can enrich the theoretical framework.
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
Cited by 3
- Beyond the Unitary: Direct, Moderated, and Mediated Associations of Mindfulness Facets with Mental Health Literacy and Treatment-Seeking Attitudes. Healthcare May 20, 2025
- The Mediating Role of Hope with Mindfulness: Empathy Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi December 22, 2025
- The effect of MBCT mindfulness-based cognitive therapy techniques on increasing hope in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy International Journal of New Findings in Health and Educational Sciences September 21, 2024
Cites 9
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- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- Mindfulness, self-compassion, and savoring: Factors that explain the relation between perceived social support and well-being 2020
- Mechanisms of Mindfulness Training: Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) Clinical Psychology Review November 5, 2016
and 4 more in the library