Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation in Depression and Anxiety: Common and Distinct Mechanisms of Action

Abstract

Background The current study seeks to investigate the mechanisms through which mindfulness is related to mental health in a clinical sample of adults by examining a) whether specific cognitive emotion regulation strategies (rumination, reappraisal, worry, and non-acceptance) mediate associations between mindfulness and depression and anxiety, respectively, and b) whether these emotion regulation strategies operate uniquely or transdiagnostically in relation to depression and anxiety. Methods Participants were 187 adults seeking treatment at a mood and anxiety disorders clinic in Connecticut. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures that included assessments of depression and anxiety (Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire), and emotion regulation (Ruminative Response Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale). Results Simple mediation analyses indicated that rumination and worry significantly mediated associations between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms, while rumination and reappraisal significantly mediated associations between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Multiple mediation analyses showed that worry significantly mediated associations between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms and rumination and reappraisal significantly mediated associations between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Conclusion Findings suggest that mindfulness operates through distinct and common mechanisms depending on clinical context.

Mindfulness in mood and anxiety disorders: a review of the literature

“…In this study on emotional regulation difficulties and psychopathology, rumination was found to be associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. 3 Several studies found that the practice of mindfulness was possibly able to clarify the effects of rumination as a self-critical questioning of one's own emotions and circumstances. 22,23 Mindfulness involves nonjudgment, which may help ruminators distance themselves from this self-critical questioning, thus reducing the effects of depressive and anxiety symptoms.…”

“…Moreover, mindfulness improves concrete thinking abilities, focusing on internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment and helping to reduce rumination in depressive and anxiety disorders. 3,24 Mindfulness meditation allows thoughts to pass shown to predict increased depression symptoms over the following year. 13 Anxiety disorders are centered on excessive worrying about future events and negative thoughts, and the practice of mindfulness helps individuals focus on the present moment, helping to decrease worry, negative thoughts and feelings, and to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in older adults.…”

“…A link has been found between difficulties with emotional regulation and psychopathology, primarily among people with mood and anxiety disorders. 3 Fear of negative appraisal decreased with successive treatments and was negatively associated with mindfulness throughout treatment and follow-up. 8 One study evaluated mindfulness group therapy as an alternative to standard treatment (mostly individual CBT) for patients with clinical diagnoses of anxiety and stress and depressive and adjustment disorders.…”

“…While studies have observed the efficacy of mindfulness, the mechanisms behind mindfulness and its association with symptoms of depression and anxiety are still not well known. 3 Mindfulness has been associated with some psychotherapeutic approaches comprising mindfulnessbased stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). 4 The MBSR approach includes daily mindfulness activities related to awareness of mind and body, using techniques focused on the present moment and nonjudgment.…”

Interventions for music performance anxiety: results from a systematic literature review

“…This is especially true for mindfulness meditation 48 . For example, this intervention has had positive results in ruminations, which are repetitive thoughts on negative emotional experiences and worries in patients with anxiety and depression 49 . Positive results were also found regarding levels of anxiety and depression among cancer patients 50 .…”