Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness.
Emily B Kroska, Michelle L Miller, Anne I Roche, Sydney K Kroska, Michael W O'Hara
Journal of Affective Disorders January 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.039 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional mediation study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 451 |
| Population | At-risk adolescents (N = 51) and college students (N = 400) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Experiential avoidance Internalizing Obsessive-compulsive Trauma |
| Key findings | Experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes significantly mediated the association between childhood trauma and OC symptoms in at-risk adolescents, and experiential avoidance mediated this association in college students. Experiential avoidance and the observe, act with awareness, and nonjudgmental mindfulness facets also mediated the trauma–internalizing symptoms association. The authors propose these as potential mechanisms and clinical intervention targets. |
Abstract
Trauma exposure is associated with adverse psychological outcomes including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Adolescence is increasingly recognized as a period of vulnerability for the onset of these types of psychological symptoms. The current study explored the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes in the association between retrospective reports of childhood trauma and current internalizing and OC symptoms in adolescents. A group of at-risk adolescents (N = 51) and a group of college students (N = 400) reported on childhood trauma, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, anxiety, depressive, and OC symptoms. Mediation analyses were performed to examine the mechanistic roles of avoidance and mindfulness in the association between trauma and internalizing and OC-specific symptoms. In the group of at-risk adolescents, experiential avoidance and mindfulness both significantly mediated the association between childhood trauma and OC symptoms. In the college student sample, experiential avoidance mediated the association between trauma and OC symptoms. Experiential avoidance, as well as the observe, act with awareness, and nonjudgmental facets of mindfulness all significantly mediated the association between trauma and internalizing symptoms. The group of at-risk adolescents was small, and the college student group was demographically homogeneous. All data was self-report and cross-sectional. The current study demonstrated that experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes may be the mechanisms through which the association between trauma and obsessive-compulsive and trauma and internalizing symptoms exist in adolescents. These findings provide potential targets for clinical intervention to improve outcomes for adolescents who have experienced trauma.
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 7
- The Implementation of Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Overcome Anxiety in Adolescents: A Narrative Review REAL in Nursing Journal August 11, 2023
- Trait mindfulness and psychological distress in college students: indirect associations via experiential avoidance. Journal of American College Health June 10, 2026
- Childhood trauma and anxiety symptoms among Chinese university students: the moderating and mediating roles of mindfulness. BMC Psychology January 31, 2026
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms in Chinese adolescent girls: a mixed-methods school-based study of parent and teacher perceptions. BMC Psychology October 14, 2025
- Reduced stress among COVID-symptomatic undergraduates: act with awareness, nonjudgment, and nonreactivity as key facets of mindfulness Adolescent Psychiatry May 13, 2024
and 2 more in the library
Cites 4
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Psychological Assessment April 11, 2011
- Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression. Behavior Therapy February 26, 2013
- Conceptualizing mindfulness and acceptance as components of psychological resilience to trauma. Trauma, violence & abuse October 1, 2011