Relationships among mindfulness, anxiety and depression in surface warship soldiers: the mediating role of attentional control
YU Yongju, Peng Li, Botao Liu, Yuanyuan Xu, Chen Bian, Haiyan Xu, Min Li
Zhonghua xingwei yixue yu naokexue zazhi May 20, 2018 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-6554.2018.05.011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 475 |
| Population | Chinese surface warship soldiers |
| Measures | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Attentional Control Scale (ACS), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness correlated positively with attentional focusing and shifting and negatively with state anxiety, trait anxiety, and depression, and attentional focusing partially mediated the relationships between mindfulness and each of these negative mood measures. Anxiety and depression differed by rank and education level, with soldiers and noncommissioned officers scoring higher than commissioned officers and lower education linked to worse anxiety, depression, and attentional focusing. |
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the relationships between mindfulness, anxiety and depression in surface warship soldiers and the mediating role of attentional control.
Methods: Chinese versions of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Attentional Control Scale (ACS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) were used to survey 475 surface warship soldiers. Single factor analysis of variance, correlation analysis and path analysis were conducted by SPSS 20.0 and Amos18.0. Results ① The scores of the state anxiety, trait anxiety and depression in the soldiers and noncommissioned officers were significantly higher than that of commissioned officers (P<0.05). As for the state anxiety, trait anxiety, depression and attentional focusing, there were statistically significant differences among different educational levels (P<0.05). Specifically, the lower educational level, the higher anxiety and depression, the lower control focusing. ② There were significant positive correlations among attentional focusing (27.12±4.43), attentional shifting (29.43±3.78) and mindfulness (120.27±11.16, r=0.49-0.51, P<0.01). State anxiety (38.65±10.07) was negatively correlated with attentional focusing, attentional shifting and mindfulness (r=-0.32--0.54, P<0.01). Similar results were observed for trait anxiety (41.28±8.79) and depression (9.97±10.13). ③Attentional focusing partially mediated the relationships between state anxiety, trait anxiety, depression and mindfulness.
Conclusion: Anxiety and depression of soldiers have obvious relationships with kinds of soldiers’ rank and education level. Mindfulness and attentional control are vital protective factors for marine army’s mental health. This study indicates that mindfulness may improve individuals’ attentional focusing and attentional shifting, and ameliorate negative moods such as anxiety and depression. Key words: Mindfulness; State anxiety; Trait anxiety; Depression; Attentional control
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
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| 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 |