Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Stress-Buffering Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Adjustment

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Mindfulness Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the potential stress-buffering role of mindfulness (including dimensions of observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity) in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological adjustment (i.e., depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and dimensions of psychological well-being) in university students. A total of 481 Australian law students completed an online questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that higher levels of mindfulness were related to improved adjustment on all outcomes. In support of predictions, dispositional mindfulness buffered the effects of perceived stress on depression and anxiety. Further analyses indicated that the ability to describe experience was particularly important in mitigating the effects of stress on depression and anxiety, as was the ability to observe internal and external experiences in mitigating the effects of stress on depression and reduced life satisfaction. Interventions to increase mindfulness, including specific facets of mindfulness, are proposed as a method of protecting the psychological well-being of students confronted with university stressors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • American College Health Association. (2014). American College Health Association—National College Health Assessment II: reference group executive summary report spring 2014. Hanover, MD: Author.

  • Baer, R. (2009). Self-focused attention and mechanisms of change in mindfulness-based treatment. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 38(1), 15–20. doi:10.1080/16506070902980703.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Carmody, J., & Hunsinger, M. (2012). Weekly change in mindfulness and perceived stress in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(7), 755–765. doi:10.1002/jclp.21865.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. doi:10.1177/1073191105283504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., Walsh, E., Duggan, D., & Williams, J. M. G. (2008). Construct validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15(3), 329–342. doi:10.1177/1073191107312003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Behar, E., McGowan, S. K., McGlaughlin, K. A., Borkovec, T. D., Goldwin, M., & Bjorkquist, O. (2012). Concreteness of positive, negative, and neutral repetitive thinking about the future. Behavior Therapy, 43, 300–312. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.07.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergin, A., & Pakenham, K. (2014). Law student stress: relationships between academic demands, social isolation, career pressure, study/life imbalance and adjustment outcomes in law students. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 22(3), 388–406. doi:10.1080/13218719.2014.960026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bränström, R., Duncan, L. G., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2011). The association between dispositional mindfulness, psychological well-being, and perceived health in a Swedish population-based sample. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16, 300–316. doi:10.1348/135910710X501683.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & David, C. J. (2007). Mindfulness: theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. doi:10.1080/10478400701598298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., Weinstein, N., & Creswell, J. D. (2012). Trait mindfulness moderates neuroendocrine and affective responses to social evaluative threat. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, 2037–2041. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.04.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, L. E., & Brown, K. W. (2005). Validation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in a cancer population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 58(1), 29–33. doi:10.1016/j.psychores.2004.04.366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, J., & Baer, R. A. (2008). Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31(1), 23–33. doi:10.1007/s10865-007-9130-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, J., Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L. B., & Olendzki, N. (2009). An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(6), 613–626. doi:10.1002/jclp.20579.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Segerstrom, S. C. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 879–889. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cash, M., & Whittingham, K. (2010). What facets of mindfulness contribute to psychological well-being and depressive, anxious, and stress-related symptomatology? Mindfulness, 1, 177–182. doi:10.1007/s12671-010-0023-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciesla, J. A., Reilly, L. C., Dickson, K. S., Emanuel, A. S., & Updegraff, J. A. (2012). Dispositional mindfulness moderates the effects of stress among adolescents: rumination as a mediator. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 53, 41(6), 760–770. doi:10.1080/15374416.2012.698724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Karmarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. doi:10.2307/2136404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. D., & Lindsay, E. K. (2014). How does mindfulness training affect health? A mindfulness buffering account. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(6), 401–407. doi:10.1177/0963721414547415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297–334. doi:10.1007/BF02310555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desrosiers, A., Klemanski, D. H., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2013). Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression. Behavior Therapy, 44, 373–384. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2013.02.001.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, R., & Renk, K. (2006). Freshmen adaption to university life: depressive symptoms, stress, and coping. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 1231–1244. doi:10.1002/jclp.20295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers, A., & Breuer, P. (1996). How good are patients with panic disorder at perceiving their heartbeats? Biological Psychology, 42, 165–182. doi:10.1016/0301-0511(95)05153-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, D., Gollust, S. E., Golberstein, E., & Hefner, J. L. (2007). Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among university students. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 534–542. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.77.4.534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, M. G. (1985). A Monte Carlo study of the effects of correlated method variance in moderated multiple regression analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 36(3), 305–323. doi:10.1016/0749-5978(85)90002-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedlander, L. J., Reid, G. J., Shupak, N., & Cribbie, R. (2007). Social support, self-esteem, and stress as predictors of adjustment to university among first-year undergraduates. Journal of College Student Development, 48(3), 259–274. doi:10.1353/csd.2007.0024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatchel, R. J., & Kishino, N. D. (2012). Conceptual approaches to occupational health and wellness: an overview. In R. J. Gatchel & I. Z. Schultz (Eds.), Handbook of occupational health and wellness. New York: Springer Science and Business Media.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gu, J., Strauss, C., Bond, R., & Cavanagh, K. (2015). How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and well-being? A systematic review and meta-analysis of meditation studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 37, 1–12. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern, C. (2012). The mindful lawyer: why contemporary lawyers are practicing meditation. Journal of Legal Education, 61(4), 641–646.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: an experiential approach to behavior change. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, J. K., & Ellis, J. B. (1996). Differences in life stress and reasons for living among college suicide ideators and non-ideators. College Student Journal, 30, 377–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, J., Turrisi, R., & Wan, C. K. (1990). Interaction effects in multiple regression. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1982). An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results. General Hospital Psychiatry, 4, 33–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness. New York: Delacourt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are. New York: Hyperion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelk, N. J., Medlow, S., & Hickie, I. (2010). Distress and depression among Australian law students: incidence, attitudes and the role of universities. Sydney Law Review, 32(1), 113–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Massee, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., Chapleau, M. A., Paquin, K., & Hofmann, S. G. (2013). Mindfulness-based therapy: a comprehensive meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(6), 763–771. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.05.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khoury, B., Sharma, M., Rush, S. E., & Fournier, C. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: a meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78, 519–528. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaMontagne, A. D., Keegel, T., Louie, A. M., & Ostry, A. (2010). Job stress as a preventable upstream determinant of common mental disorders: a review for practitioners and policy-makers. Advances in Mental Health, 9(1), 17–35. doi:10.5172/jamh.9.1.17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linehan, M. M. (1993a). Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linehan, M. M. (1993b). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malinowski, P., & Lim, H. J. (2015). Mindfulness at work: positive affect, hope, and optimism mediate the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, work engagement, and well-being. Mindfulness, 6(6), 1250–1262. doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0388-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, A. D. G., Sobanski, D. J., & Hine, D. W. (2010). Do dispositional rumination and/or mindfulness moderate the relationship between life hassles and psychological dysfunction in adolescents? The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44(9), 831–838. doi:10.3109/00048674.2010.487478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michl, L. C., McLaughlin, K. A., Shepherd, K., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2013). Rumination as a mechanism linking stressful life events to symptoms of depression and anxiety: longitudinal evidence in early adolescents and adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 339–352. doi:10.1037/a0031994.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miczo, N., Miczo, L. A., & Johnson, M. (2006). Parental support, perceived stress, and illness related variables among first-year college students. The Journal of Family Communication, 6(2), 97–117. doi:10.1207/s15327698jfc0602_1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neale-Lorello, D., & Haaga, D. A. F. (2015). The “observing” facet of mindfulness moderates stress/symptom relations only among meditators. Mindfulness, 6(6), 1286–1291. doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0396-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wisco, B. E., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Rethinking rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3, 400–424. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6924.2008.00088.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramler, T. R., Tennison, L. R., Lynch, J., & Murphy, P. (2015). Mindfulness and the college transition: the efficacy of an adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention in fostering adjustment among first-year students. Mindfulness, 7(1), 179–188. doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0398-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riskin, L. L. (2002). The contemplative lawyer: on the potential contributions of mindfulness meditation to law students, lawyers, and their clients. Harvard Negotiation Law Review, 7(1), 66–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, S. (2012). The mindful law school: an integrative approach to transforming legal education. Touro Law Review, 28, 1189–1205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, P., Sephton, S., Weissbecker, I., Hoover, K., Ulmer, C., & Studts, J. L. (2004). Mindfulness meditation in clinical practice. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 11, 434–446. doi:10.1016/S1077-7229(04)80060-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauer, S., Walach, H., Schmidt, S., Hinterberger, T., Lynch, S., Büssing, A., & Kohls, N. (2013). Assessment of mindfulness: review on state of the art. Mindfulness, 4, 3–17. doi:10.1007/s12671-012-0122-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, S. L., Brown, W. B., & Biegel, G. W. (2007). Teaching self-care to caregivers: effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the mental health of therapists in training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 1(2), 105–115. doi:10.1037/1931-3918.1.2.105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehy, R., & Horan, J. J. (2004). Effects of stress inoculation training for 1st-year law students. International Journal of Stress Management, 11(1), 41–55. doi:10.1037/1072-5245.11.1.41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E. (1992). A consideration of the validity and meaning of self report measures of job conditions. In C. L. Cooper & I. T. Roberston (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 123–151). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, E. R. (2008). Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought. Psychological Bulletin, 134(2), 163–206. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Werch, C., Bian, H., Moore, M., Ames, S., DiClemente, C., & Weiler, R. (2007). Brief multiple behavior interventions in a college student health care clinic. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(6), 577–585. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.06.003.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Adele J. Bergin & Kenneth I. Pakenham

Authors
  1. Adele J. Bergin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth I. Pakenham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adele J. Bergin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bergin, A.J., Pakenham, K.I. The Stress-Buffering Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Adjustment. Mindfulness 7, 928–939 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0532-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0532-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation