Childhood trauma and problem behavior: Examining the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes.
Anne I Roche, Emily B Kroska, Michelle L Miller, Sydney K Kroska, Michael W O'Hara
Journal of American College Health June 19, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1455689 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 414 |
| Population | College-aged young adults recruited from a university setting in the Midwestern United States |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Avoidance learning Stress disorders, post-traumatic Students Universities Midwestern united states Female Young adult Self report Problem behavior Mental health Experiential avoidance |
| Key findings | Experiential avoidance significantly mediated the association between childhood trauma and problem behavior, and the mindfulness facets of acting with awareness and nonjudgment of inner experience each significantly mediated the same association. The authors propose that interventions targeting avoidance and mindfulness may help reduce problem behavior among college students with childhood trauma histories. |
Abstract
Objective: Childhood trauma is associated with a variety of risky, unhealthy, or problem behaviors. The current study aimed to explore experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes as mechanisms through which childhood trauma and problem behavior are linked in a college sample.
Participants: The sample consisted of college-aged young adults recruited November-December, 2016 (N = 414).
Methods: Participants completed self-report measures of childhood trauma, current problem behavior, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness processes. Bootstrapped mediation analyses examined the mechanistic associations of interest.
Results: Mediation analyses indicated that experiential avoidance was a significant mediator of the association between childhood trauma and problem behavior. Additionally, multiple mediation analyses indicated that specific mindfulness facets-act with awareness and nonjudgment of inner experience-significantly mediated the same association.
Conclusions: Interventions for college students who have experienced childhood trauma might profitably target mechanisms such as avoidance and mindfulness in order to minimize engagement in problem behavior.
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 6
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- The “What” and the “How” of Dispositional Mindfulness Assessment May 14, 2012
- Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression. Behavior Therapy February 26, 2013
- Mindful awareness and non-judging in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Mindfulness December 1, 2011
- Conceptualizing mindfulness and acceptance as components of psychological resilience to trauma. Trauma, violence & abuse October 1, 2011
and 1 more in the library