Skip to main content
ABCT 2024 58th Annual Convention Main banner
Psychology Tools Ad
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Ticketed Session
Ticketed Session

Child / Adolescent - Depression

Understanding Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Emotion Regulation Effects on Mood Disorder & Anxiety Symptoms in At-Risk Youth: Preliminary Analyses

(PS5-87) Understanding Mindfulness, Self-compassion, and Emotion Regulation Effects on Mood Disorder & Anxiety Symptoms in At-risk Youth: Preliminary Analyses

Friday, November 15, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

    Author(s)

  • JM

    Jessica Mak, B.S.

    Research Project Assistant
    University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

  • AH

    Ashley Harbaugh, B.S.

    Research project assistant
    University of Pittsburgh
    Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract Text: Youth at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) may experience increased mood lability, leading to difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) and predicting mood disorder onset. Limited research has investigated dispositional mindfulness (DM), self-compassion (SC), emotion regulation (ER), and their potential mechanisms for reducing psychopathology in at-risk youth. Utilizing cross-sectional data, we hypothesized that SC and DM exhibit a reciprocal relationship, with ER serving as a mediator for the impact of this relationship on scores related to CALS (Child and Adolescent Life Satisfaction), SMFQ (Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire), and SCARED (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders). Participants included 84 teens at familial risk for mood disorders. Measures assessing DM, SC, ER, mood lability, depression, and anxiety were completed by parent and child. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationships between indicators and their effects on outcome measures, controlling for sex and age. Findings showed that associations between DM and other measures were primarily driven by the factor of non-judgmental awareness (NA). NA significantly predicted child mood lability (b = -1.28, p < .001), anxiety (b = -1.21, p</span> < .001), and depression (b = -0.66, p < .001). SC was independently associated with child depression (b = -3.21, p < .001). Results from regression analyses do not support mediation of ER. However, there is preliminary evidence that NA may play a critical role in reducing psychopathology symptoms and SC may specifically reduce child depressive symptoms. Further research, larger samples and longitudinal data are needed to assess mediation and directionality of relationships.