The Factorial Structure of the Anhedonia List and its mediating role between Mindfulness and both Anxiety and Depression among University Students
Ahmed Mohamed Gadelrab Abouzaid, Heba Gaber Abdelhamid
Sohag University International Journal of Educational Research (SUIJER) /Sohag University International Journal of Educational Research July 1, 2023 DOI: 10.21608/suijer.2023.305894 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional psychometric and mediation study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 740 |
| Population | University students from Sohag University, Egypt (first sample: 250; second sample: 490) |
| Measures | Beck Scales for Depression and Anxiety, Mindfulness Scale, Short Social and Physical Anhedonia Scales, Anhedonia List (AL) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Anhedonia was found to be a multidimensional construct with four dimensions (cognitive, emotional, social, physical), each with three levels (desire, effort, experience). Anhedonia contributed to anxiety (64.6%) and depression (71.7%), and mindfulness contributed to anxiety (42.1%) and depression (47.3%). Anhedonia mediated the relationship between mindfulness and both anxiety and depression. The authors propose a new therapeutic approach, "Mindfulness Based Anhedonia Reduction (MBAR) Therapy." |
Abstract
The current research aimed at identifying the factorial structure of the Anhedonia List (AL) and its mediating role between mindfulness and both anxiety and depression among university students. The first sample consisted of (250) students, males (n = 90) and females (n = 160), with (M=19.78, SD=2.95 years), from Sohag University students to calculate the factorial structure of the Anhedonia List (AL). The second sample consisted of 490 students Males (n=110) and females (n=380), average age (M= 20,21, SD=2,97), from Sohag University students to calculate the mediating role of anhedonia between mindfulness and symptoms of anxiety and depression. (Second search). The Beck Scales for Depression and Anxiety, the Mindfulness Scale, the Short Social and Physical Anhedonia Scales were used. For the purpose of the current research, an Anhedonia List (AL) was developed and tested for Validity and reliability. Using exploratory and confirmatory (χ2 / df= 1.625, RMSEA= 0.050, RMR= 0.032, IFI- 0.8, CFI= 0.8, TLI=0.8) factor analysis, it was found that anhedonia is a multi-dimensional construct with four dimensions: cognitive, emotional, social and physical. Each dimension has three levels: desire, effort, and experience. Regression Analysis revealed that anhedonia contributes to both anxiety (64.6%) and depression (71.7%), and mindfulness contributes to both anxiety (42.1%) and depression (47.3%). It was also found - through a structural model - that anhedonia plays a mediating role between mindfulness and both anxiety and depression among university students. It was recommended that further research be conducted to verify the psychometric properties of the list of anhedonia on other samples and environments, and to validate the current structural model on other disorders. Based on the results of the current research, a new therapeutic approach was proposed under the name "Mindfulness Based Anhedonia Reduction (MBAR) Therapy" to treat or reduce anxiety and depression disorders.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in the General Population: The Mediating Roles of Worry, Rumination, Reappraisal and Suppression Frontiers in Psychology March 8, 2019
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Specifically Improves Social Anhedonia among Adults with Chronic Stress