Dual pathways linking mindfulness to life satisfaction and depression: the mediating roles of self-compassion and rumination in Chinese university students.
Yunpeng Wu, Liping Qin, Xizheng Xu, Yu Tian, Zhe Jia
BMC Psychology May 27, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02895-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,409 |
| Population | Chinese university students |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Life satisfaction Rumination Self-compassion Sequential mediation University students Psychological well-being Emotional health Mental well-being Mental wellness Psychological mechanisms Psychological processes Mediating factors Mediating variables Psychological pathways Dual pathway model Student mental health Student well-being Youth mental health |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness is associated with higher life satisfaction and lower depression through sequential mediation by self-compassion and rumination. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has been consistently linked to mental health benefits; however, the underlying mechanisms relating mindfulness to life satisfaction and depression remain underexplored. This study develops and empirically examines the Dual Pathways Mindfulness Model (DPMM), which posits that mindfulness is associated with mental health through sequential mechanisms involving self-compassion and rumination among university students. A cross-sectional survey involving 1,409 Chinese university students was conducted. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized sequential mediation model. Indirect effects were examined using bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. Mindfulness was positively associated with life satisfaction (Effect = 0.080, p < 0.01) and negatively associated with depression (Effect = -0.180, p < 0.001). Self-compassion significantly mediated both associations, linking mindfulness to higher life satisfaction (Indirect effect = 0.057, 95% CI [0.05, 0.07]) and lower depression (Indirect effect = -0.033, 95% CI [-0.04, -0.03]). Rumination also served as a significant mediator for life satisfaction (Indirect effect = 0.067, 95% CI [0.02, 0.04]) and depression (Indirect effect = -0.064, 95% CI [ -0.07, -0.05]). Furthermore, a sequential mediation pathway was identified: higher mindfulness was associated with greater self-compassion, which was linked to lower rumination, ultimately associated with increased life satisfaction (Indirect effect = 0.020, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]) and decreased depressive symptoms (Indirect effect = -0.039, 95% CI [-0.05, -0.03]). This study proposes and validates the DPMM, a novel model explaining how mindfulness relates to mental health through interconnected self-regulatory processes. By identifying self-compassion and rumination as sequential mediators, the findings offer theoretical insights into the psychological mechanisms linking mindfulness to enhanced well-being. While the cross-sectional design precludes causal claims, the results provide a foundational framework to guide future longitudinal studies and inform mental health promotion strategies grounded in mechanism-based understanding.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The association of mindfulness with stress self-management among university teachers: the mediating roles of resilience and cognitive reappraisal. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- The association between mindfulness and social anxiety in university students: the chain mediation role of rumination and self-compassion. Frontiers in Psychology April 23, 2026
Cites 4
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Clarifying the construct of mindfulness in the context of emotion regulation and the process of change in therapy. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Relationships between Mindfulness, Purpose in Life, Happiness, Anxiety, and Depression: Testing a Mediation Model in a Sample of Women International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 21, 2021
- How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clinical Psychology Review April 1, 2015