Differential effects of mindfulness and grit on positive mental health outcomes in major depressive and bipolar disorders: A moderation analysis using an ecological momentary assessment approach.
Joyce Xu Hao Jin, Heidi Ka Ying Lo, Iris Wai Tung Tsui, Ting Kin Ng, Ka Fai Chung, Suet Ying Yuen, Fiona Yan Yee Ho, Corine Sau Man Wong, Chit Tat Lee, Chun Yin Poon, Kayla M Teopiz, Christine Dri, Roger S McIntyre
Journal of affective disorders July 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119969 via PubMed
Summary
In people with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), positive psychological traits such as mindfulness and grit interact with negative affect to influence positive mental health. Over two weeks, 29 people with MDD, 29 with BD, and 30 healthy controls reported their negative affect, pleasure attainment, and meaning in life five times daily. Lower negative affect strengthened the link between mindfulness and meaning in life in the MDD group but not in the BD or control group. Higher grit reduced the harmful effect of negative affect on pleasure attainment in the BD group but not in the other groups. These findings highlight complex relationships between positive traits and mental health in mood disorders.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort with ecological momentary assessment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 88 |
| Population | Persons with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and healthy controls |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Bipolar disorder Grit Positive mental health |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Lower negative affect enhanced the positive association between mindfulness and meaning in life in MDD, while higher grit buffered against negative affect's impact on pleasure attainment in BD. |
Abstract
Holistic management of persons living with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) invites the need for evaluation of positive mental health (PMH; pleasure attainment and meaning-in-life), alongside conventional measures of psychopathology. The aforementioned dimensions of PMH involve aspects of mindfulness and grit. Herein, we evaluate these aspects using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach. This study investigated how positive psychological traits interact with negative affect (NA) to affect PMH in persons with MDD (n = 29), BD (n = 29), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 30). Self-reported NA, pleasure attainment, and meaning-in-life were captured five times a day during a two-week observation period. Mindfulness and grit were assessed using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and Grit-Scale-Short, respectively. Moderation and simple-slope-analyses were conducted. A total of 4632 EMA observations were made. Moderated-moderation-analyses indicated significant differences between groups. Lower NA levels significantly potentiated the mindfulness-life meaning relationship in the MDD group (b = -0.315, p = .037), but not in BD and HC. Meanwhile, higher grit levels significantly attenuated NA's negative impact on pleasure attainment in the BD (b = 0.247, p = .034), but not in the MDD/HC group. The use of trait measurements limited direct state comparisons. Lower NA levels augmented the positive effects of measures of mindfulness on life-meaning in MDD. Higher grit levels mitigated against reduction in pleasure attainment due to NA in BD. Our results underscore the complex interactions between measures of positive psychological traits and PMH in MDD and BD.