Does rumination function as a longitudinal mediator between mindfulness and depressive symptoms?
Tasmin Jury
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal observational study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 483 |
| Population | Community sample of New Zealand adults |
| Duration | Three assessments over six months (baseline, three months, and six months) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Rumination mediated the negative longitudinal association between dispositional mindfulness and depressive symptoms, with three mindfulness facets (acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reacting) showing this mediation. The authors suggest these facets reduce rumination, which then diminishes depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
The present study was designed to longitudinally examine the relationships among dispositional mindfulness, rumination, and depressive symptoms in adults and determine whether rumination mediated the expected negative association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms across time. A community sample of 483 New Zealand adults completed self-report measures of mindfulness, rumination and depressive symptoms initially and again after three months and a third time a further three months later. The predicted cross-lag associations were found, and in consequence, the predicted longitudinal mediation was supported in the data as well. That is, rumination mediated the negative association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. In addition, three of the five facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reacting) exhibited the longitudinal mediation through rumination to depressive symptoms. The findings of this research suggest that certain aspects of mindfulness function to reduce rumination, which then serve to diminish depressive symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- 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
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
and 12 more in the library