Mindfulness and loneliness in retired older adults in China: mediation effects of positive and negative affect.
Xiaoxia Xie, Xingyong Qiao, Chien-Chung Huang, Shannon P Cheung
Aging & Mental Health July 26, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2240261 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 748 |
| Population | Retired older adults aged 60 and above in Chengdu, China |
| Measures | UCLA Loneliness Scale, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire short form, International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Loneliness Mental health Retirement Aged China Surveys and questionnaires Positive affect Older adults Retirees Negative affect |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was positively associated with positive affect (β = 0.37) and negatively associated with negative affect (β = -0.21) and loneliness (β = -0.13). Positive and negative affect mediated an indirect effect of mindfulness on loneliness (β = -0.20), suggesting mindfulness may be a resource for reducing loneliness among retired older adults in China. |
Abstract
Objectives: Drawing from the mindfulness framework and the broaden-and-build theory, this study investigates the extent to which mindfulness influences loneliness and whether the relation is mediated by positive and negative affect.Method: Data were collected from 748 retired older adults aged 60 and above in Chengdu, China in 2022. Loneliness and mindfulness were measured by the UCLA loneliness scale and by the short-form version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, while the positive and negative affect was assessed by the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.Results: The results of this study show that mindfulness was positively associated with positive affect (β = 0.37, p<.001), negatively related to negative affect (β=-0.21, p<.001) and loneliness (β=-0.13, p<.001), and had an indirect effect on loneliness via positive and negative affect (β=-0.20, p<.001).Conclusion: The findings suggest that mindfulness could be a positive resource for improving mental health and reducing loneliness among retired older adults in China.
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 8
- 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
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Effectiveness Of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction On Depression In Elderly: A Systematic Review Journal of Nursing Practice October 31, 2020
- Mindfulness training reduces loneliness and increases social contact in a randomized controlled trial Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences February 11, 2019
and 3 more in the library