The Mediating Role of Precepts and Meditation on Attachment and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – July 03, 2023
Source: PubMed
Summary
Adherence to Buddhist precepts and meditation significantly influences mental health among adolescents. In a study of 453 Thai boarding-school students, those with higher precept adherence and regular meditation reported lower depressive symptoms. The average age was 16.35 years, with 88% female and 89.4% identifying as Buddhist. Participants scored 2.7 for attachment anxiety and 2.78 for avoidance. Notably, meditation showed a stronger impact on reducing depression compared to precept adherence, highlighting the importance of these practices in managing anxiety and depression in youth.
Abstract
Research shows that Buddhist precept adherence (i.e., abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicant use) and meditation practice influence mental health outcomes. This study investigated how Buddhist precept adherence and meditation practice influenced the relationship between insecure attachment and depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents. A total of 453 Thai boarding-school students from 10th-12th grade were recruited from five boarding schools (two purposively selected Buddhist schools and three conveniently selected secular schools). They completed these tools: Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-revised-18, Outcome-Inventory-21: Depression Subscale, Precept Practice Questionnaire, and Inner-Strength-Based Inventory: Meditation. A parallel mediation model analyzed the indirect effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on depression through precept adherence and meditation practice. The participants' demographics were 16.35 ± 0.96 years, 88% female, and 89.4% Buddhist. The mean scores for attachment anxiety were 2.7 ± 1.1; attachment avoidance, 2.78 ± 1.2; overall regular precept adherence, 20.1 ± 4.4; regular but not daily meditation, 2.94 ± 1.3; and low depressive symptoms, 3.75 ± 3.4. The standardized indirect effects for attachment anxiety (β = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.022, 0.070) and avoidance (β = 0.024, 95% CI = 0.009, 0.046) on depressive symptoms through meditation and precept adherence were significant. Meditation practice had a significantly higher indirect effect size than precept adherence.