Mindfulness and exercise-related health beliefs: associations with perceived stress dimensions among university students

Background: University students frequently experience stress, appraisals that may negatively relate to health beliefs and motivation for physical activity. Dispositional mindfulness has been identified as a potential psychological resource that may be associated with more adaptive health cognitions under stressful conditions.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined associations among the cognitive appraisal dimensions of perceived stress, mindfulness (stress-related inefficacy and helplessness), dispositional mindfulness, and exercise-related health beliefs in university students, testing whether mindfulness is indirectly associated with the relationship. Because the data are cross-sectional, mediation here refers strictly to statistical associations and does not establish temporal or causal relationships or evaluate actual exercise behavior.

Methods: A sample of 1,269 Turkish university students completed validated questionnaires assessing perceived stress appraisal dimensions (stress-related inefficacy and helplessness), dispositional mindfulness, and exercise-related health beliefs based on the health belief model. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate direct relationships and indirect statistical associations among the latent variables.

Results: Both perceived stress dimensions were negatively associated with mindfulness and exercise-related health beliefs, while mindfulness was positively associated with exercise-related health beliefs. The model accounted for 67% of the variance in exercise-related health beliefs and 45% of the variance in mindfulness. Mindfulness showed significant indirect associations linking both perceived stress appraisal dimensions with exercise-related health beliefs.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that dispositional mindfulness is associated with more positive exercise-related health cognitions in the context of perceived stress appraisals; however, causal or protective effects cannot be inferred. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to determine whether mindfulness practices causally influence stress appraisals, exercise cognitions, or actual physical activity participation.