Mindfulness and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: the Underlying Roles of Awareness, Acceptance, Impulse Control, and Emotion Regulation

The present prospective study tested the mediating processes between mindfulness and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Chinese emerging adults in Hong Kong. A total of 333 emerging adults between 18 and 26 years of age (male = 95; female = 238) completed a questionnaire for four times in two consecutive years, with each time point spanning 6 months apart. Findings based on multi-group path analysis and bootstrapping indicated that the longitudinal association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms was mediated by regulatory processes including awareness and acceptance of negative emotions, impulse control difficulties, and emotion regulation, regardless of gender. A marginal trend was also indicated for the mediation processes between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms. The present findings underscore the importance of mindfulness in mental health through a chain of longitudinal mediating mechanisms. In addition to enriching the mindfulness literature in diverse ecological contexts, evidence was advanced to inform prevention and intervention efforts in promoting mindfulness as an asset associated with mental health.