(PS14-76) Moderated Mediation Association and Intervention Effects Between Mindfulness and Internalizing Psychopathology

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between facets of mindfulness and internalizing symptoms through both observational and intervention approaches. Specifically, we investigated how observing and acceptance are interactively associated with anxiety and depression via rumination within the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Theory (MAT) framework. Furthermore, the association was further explored in a MBSR program.  

Method: Study 1 employed an online survey distributed to college students in Guangdong Province, yielding 424 valid responses from 472 collected questionnaires. Measurements included the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-C), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Study 2 involved 77 participants, screened for exclusion criteria and randomized into intervention and control groups, with assessments conducted pre- and post- an 8-week MBSR program.

Results: Study 1 findings revealed that rumination mediates the relationship between observation and both anxiety and depression. Higher levels of non-judgment moderated the mediation effect, reducing the increase in anxiety and depression through rumination. Study 2 results indicated significant intervention effects on the mindfulness dimensions of observation, non-judgment, and non-reactivity. Anxiety and rumination scores increased over time across both groups, but no significant change in depression scores was observed. The mindfulness intervention group showed significant improvements in mindfulness levels compared to the control group, with the baseline levels of mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and rumination influencing the outcomes.

Conclusion: The study underscores the interplay between mindfulness facets and internalizing symptoms, highlighting the mediating role of rumination and the moderating effect of non-judgment. The MBCT intervention effectively enhanced mindfulness levels, particularly in participants with lower baseline mindfulness, suggesting the potential of mindfulness-based interventions in mitigating internalizing symptoms through the cultivation of specific mindfulness skills. Future research should further explore these dynamics and the long-term effects of mindfulness interventions.