The moderating role of mindfulness in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms.
Scientific reports December 28, 2024 Mei Chih Liao, Ming Sing Jessica Choi, Chak Hei Ocean Huang et al. 2 citations
Loneliness is a global health threat linked to depressive symptoms. Mindfulness moderates this relationship: when mindfulness levels are low, loneliness is more strongly associated with depressive symptoms; higher mindfulness buffers this association. Among 220 Chinese adults, mindfulness significantly predicted depressive symptoms after accounting for demographics and loneliness. Encouraging mindfulness practices may offer public health benefits, though further research is needed to test whether mindfulness-based programs can prevent the mental health consequences of loneliness.