Investigating the mediating roles of executive functioning and rumination in the relations between dispositional mindfulness and depression among high school students

Abstract

This study investigates the intricate relations between dispositional mindfulness, executive functioning, rumination, and depression among Chinese high school students. It aims to understand how dispositional mindfulness can potentially predict depression in this demographic, providing insights for preventive interventions targeting adolescent depression. Despite growing recognition of mindfulness in mental health, its relations between executive functioning, rumination, and depression in high school students is not fully understood. The study involved 608 high school students (59.5% female; M age = 16.37 SD = 0.53) from the southwestern region of China. Data were collected using established scales: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Teenage Executive Functioning Inventory (TEXI), the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The analysis revealed significant correlations: a significant positive association between mindfulness and executive functioning capabilities, alongside notable negative associations between mindfulness and both rumination and depression, and a negative correlation between executive functioning and both rumination and depression.A positive correlation was observed between rumination and depression. Analytical the mediation model indicated that mindfulness predicts depression in directly, with this predictive effect being partially mediated by executive functioning and rumination in a serial multiple mediation model. These results corroborate the initial hypotheses and highlight the intricate interactions between mindfulness, executive functioning, rumination, and depression in high school student. This study underscores the importance of mindfulness, executive functioning, and rumination in understanding adolescent depression. The findings offer valuable insights for future research and highlight key areas for potential preventive strategies in adolescent mental health.