Potential Mechanisms of Mindfulness in Improving Sleep and Distress.
Way K W Lau, Mei-Kei Leung, Yun Kwok Wing, Tatia M C Lee
Mindfulness 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0796-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 364 |
| Population | Community-dwelling healthy Chinese non-meditators aged 18–65, 59% female |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Acceptance Mediation Psychological distress Sleep |
| Key findings | Greater acceptance weakened the positive association between awareness and poor sleep quality (β = -0.0154), and this moderation was partially mediated by psychological distress (β = -0.0065). The authors propose that awareness and acceptance may be mechanisms by which mindfulness improves sleep, partly through reduced distress. |
Abstract
The mechanisms of mindfulness-improved sleep quality are not extensively studied. Recently, attention monitoring/awareness and acceptance in mindfulness have been proposed to be the underlying mechanisms that tackle distress and related disorders. The current study tested if acceptance moderated the relationship of awareness with psychological distress and sleep quality, and verified that psychological distress mediated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality in a group of community-dwelling healthy adults. Three hundred and sixty-four healthy Chinese non-meditators (age 18-65, 59% female) completed a set of online self-reported questionnaires in Chinese via SurveyMonkey. Awareness and acceptance were measured by Observe and Nonreact facets in the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), respectively. General psychological distress levels and sleep quality were reflected in the global score of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Model 1 and model 8 in the PROCESS macro for SPSS were used to assess the moderation and moderated mediation effects. Increased level of acceptance (Nonreact) weakened the positive relationship between awareness (Observe) and poor sleep quality (β = -0.0154, p = 0.0123), which was partially mediated through perceived psychological distress (β = -0.0065, 95% bias-corrected bootstrap CI = -0.0128, -0.0004) in a group of community-dwelling healthy adults. Our findings suggested that awareness and acceptance could be the mechanisms of mindfulness interventions in improving sleep quality, partly via reducing psychological stress.
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 24
- Mindfulness, acceptance, and emotion regulation: Perspectives from Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) October 5, 2019
- Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Group Intervention for Chinese University Students with Sleep Problems International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 10, 2022
- Do Brief Mindfulness Interventions (BMI) and Health Enhancement Programs (HEP) Improve Sleep in Patients in Hemodialysis with Depression and Anxiety? Healthcare October 21, 2021
- Efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation on Patients With Stroke With Concurrent Coronary Heart Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2024
- Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared With a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2024
and 19 more in the library
Cites 10
- 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: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
and 5 more in the library