Coping Style as a Mediator in the Associations between Dispositional Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Loneliness
PsyArXiv August 7, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/5u7g6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Longitudinal |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 453 |
| Population | General population adults in China recruited via social network platforms |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness and self-compassion were both negatively associated with loneliness, and negative coping significantly mediated these relationships while controlling for demographic variables. Positive coping was not significantly associated with loneliness. The authors propose negative coping as a potential mechanism linking mindfulness and self-compassion to loneliness, contingent on future longitudinal and experimental confirmation. |
Abstract
Mindfulness and self-compassion have the potential to alleviate loneliness, a significant public health concern. Investigating the underlying mechanisms that drive their impact on loneliness is crucial to optimizing their effectiveness. The current cross-sectional study aimed to explore the mediating role of coping style in the relationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, and loneliness. Participants (n = 453) were recruited from the general population through social network platforms in China. Participants completed an online survey including measures of demographic information, dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, coping style, and loneliness. Correlation analyses revealed that mindfulness and self-compassion both had significantly negative associations with loneliness; negative coping was positively correlated with loneliness, while positive coping was not significantly associated with loneliness; mindfulness and self-compassion were positively related to positive coping and negatively associated with negative coping. Mediation analyses showed that negative coping significantly mediated the effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on loneliness while controlling for demographic variables. These findings suggest that negative coping may serve as a potential mechanism linking mindfulness and self-compassion to loneliness. If future longitudinal and experimental research confirms the mediating effect of negative coping, mindfulness and self-compassion interventions can address negative coping to optimize their effects on loneliness.
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 11
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 6 more in the library