The mediating role of cognitive biases in the effects of mindfulness on mental health

Objectives: People with less psychological distress and a more peaceful mind may have higher levels of trait mindfulness and less cognitive biases. In this study, we purpose a conceptual framework to examine three different cognitive processes in the effects of trait mindfulness on mental health. Methods: Two studies were conducted and a total of 155 community adults were recruited from the Hong Kong Institute of Education and social network. All participants completed the questionnaires that measured five facets of mindfulness, psychological distress and subjective well-being, along with measures of interpretation, attention and memory biases. Results: Correlation analyses suggested us to use interpretation bias as a mediator of mindfulness on depression (model 1); as a mediator of mindfulness on peace of mind (model 2); and as a mediator of mindfulness on anxiety (model 3). Discussion: Regression analyses and the Sobel test support partial mediation in models 1 and 2 and demonstrates that greater trait mindfulness would predict less negative interpretation bias, and in turn, less serve depression and greater peace of mind. All rights reserved.