Trait Mindfulness as a Buffer: Exploring its Association with Negative Emotional States among University Students
Shazia Jabeen, Farah Iqbal
Pakistan Journal of Positive Psychology October 31, 2026 DOI: 10.67785/pjpp.9.410 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with regression analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 405 |
| Population | Pakistani young adults aged 18–30 years (189 males, 216 females) |
| Measures | Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Trait mindfulness significantly and negatively predicted depression (R² = .237), anxiety (R² = .210), and stress (R² = .201) among Pakistani young adults, consistent with the authors' hypotheses. The authors interpret trait mindfulness as a preventive factor against negative emotions and argue for culturally adapted mindfulness-based interventions. |
Abstract
The present study investigated the predictive role of trait mindfulness in relation to depression, anxiety, and stress among Pakistani young adults. The following hypotheses were formulated: H1: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict depression among Pakistani young adults. H2: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict anxiety among Pakistani young adults. H3: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict stress among Pakistani young adults. A sample of 405 participants (189 males, 216 females; aged 18–30 years, M = 22.39, SD = 2.823) completed an online survey including the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Reliability and normality assessments confirmed the adequacy of the measures. Linear regression analyses revealed that trait mindfulness significantly and negatively predicted depression (R² = .237, p < .001), anxiety (R² = .210, p < .001), and stress (R² = .201, p < .001). These findings were consistent with the hypotheses formulated and the theoretical perspectives. The study adds value to global evidence in relation to the Pakistani context, highlighting trait mindfulness as a preventive factor against negative emotions and emphasizing the need for culturally adapted mindfulness-based interventions to enhance psychological resilience among young adults.
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 |