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Mindfulness is increasingly conceptualized in terms of its regulatory function with research suggesting that mindfulness may have a salutary effect on psychological well-being. The present cross-sectional study of 514 college students (84% Caucasian and 62% females), using self-report questionnaires, tested a proposed model for understanding the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and depressive symptoms through three types of affect regulation: emotion regulation, mood regulation and self-regulation, as measured by positive emotions, mood regulation expectancies (i.e., perceived mood repair ability), and self-acceptance, respectively. Structural equation modeling revealed that the model fit the data well, with the relationship between mindfulness, as measured by the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, and depressive symptoms, as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, fully mediated by the proposed regulatory processes. Higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were associated with higher levels of positive emotions, mood regulation expectancies, and self-acceptance, which in turn, were all inversely related to depressive symptoms. Self-acceptance emerged as the strongest mediator of mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that mindfulness might serve a regulatory function by targeting low positive emotionality, poor mood regulation, and negative self-concept, risk factors implicated in the onset, development, and maintenance of depressive symptoms.
How might a practice that has its roots in contemplative traditions, seeking heightened awareness through meditation, apply to trauma-related mental health struggles among military veterans? In recent years, clinicians and researchers have observed the increasing presence of mindfulness in Western mental health treatment programs. Mindfulness is about bringing an attitude of curiosity and compassion to present experience. This review addresses the above question in a detailed manner with an emphasis on the treatment of military veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related psychopathology. In addition, the integration of mindfulness with current empirically supported treatments for PTSD is discussed with specific attention to directions for future research in this area.