The Role of Mindfulness in Reducing Depression During COVID-19 At-home Treatment.
Geurim Go, Su Young Lee, Chan-hyung Kim, Jhin Goo Chang
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness April 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2025.82
Summary
Mindfulness significantly reduces depression in isolated COVID-19 patients by alleviating fear. In a survey of 380 participants, the correlation between fear of COVID-19 and depression decreased from 37.7% to 25.5% when mindfulness was considered, indicating partial mediation. Mindfulness accounted for 32.3% of the total effect on depression, with an indirect effect size of 0.121. These findings suggest that promoting mindfulness could be a valuable strategy to enhance mental health during periods of isolation and fear associated with COVID-19.
Abstract
Mindfulness is a promising psychological resource that can alleviate dysfunctional fear responses and promote mental health. We investigated how mindfulness affects fear and depression in isolated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and whether it acts as a mediator. We conducted an online survey of COVID-19 patients undergoing at-home treatment from February to April 2022. The survey included a questionnaire on fear of COVID-19 (measured by the Fear of COVID-19 Scale), mindfulness (measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and depression (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire). A total of 380 participants completed the questionnaire. We analyzed the correlation between each variable and performed a mediation analysis using hierarchical regression and bootstrapping to verify the statistical significance of the mediating effects. Each variable was significantly correlated. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the association between the fear of COVID-19 and depression decreased from 0.377-0.255, suggesting that mindfulness partially mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression. Bootstrapping analysis showed that the indirect effect of the mediating variable (mindfulness) is 0.121, which accounts for 32.3% of the total effect. Interventions that promote mindfulness in patients with acute COVID-19 may be beneficial for their mental health.