Impact of mindfulness and self-compassion on anxiety and depression: The mediating role of resilience

  1. Adrián Pérez-Aranda
  2. Javier García-Campayo
  3. Francisco Gude
  4. Juan V. Luciano
  5. Albert Feliu-Soler
  6. Arturo González-Quintela
  7. Yolanda López-del-Hoyo
  8. Jesus Montero-Marin
Journal:
International journal of clinical and health psychology

ISSN: 1697-2600

Year of publication: 2021

Volume: 21

Issue: 2

Pages: 53-62

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1016/J.IJCHP.2021.100229 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: International journal of clinical and health psychology

Abstract

Background/Objective ‘Third-wave’ psychotherapies have shown effectiveness for treating psychopathological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. There is burgeoning interest in examining how these therapies’ core constructs produce their therapeutic benefits. This study explores the hypothetical mediating effect of resilience in the impact of mindfulness and self-compassion on anxiety and depressive symptoms. Method: Cross-sectional study design. The sample consisted of 860 Spanish general population participants. The measures included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-12), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS). Bivariate correlations were calculated, and path analysis models were performed. Results: Significant correlations were found between the study variables, always in the expected direction (all p values <.001). The path analysis models showed significant direct effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on anxiety and depression symptoms, but the only significant indirect effects through resilience were found on depression (MAAS: β = -.05, 95% CI = -.11 to -.02; SCS-12: β = -.06, 95% CI = -.33 to -.07). Conclusions: Resilience might partially mediate the effect of mindfulness and self-compassion on depression, but not on anxiety.

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