{"title":"The Correlation Between Mindfulness, Decentering, and Psychological Problems: A Structural Equation Modeling Meta-Analysis","authors":"Lin Guo","doi":"10.1007/s12671-024-02395-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>It has been assumed that decentering is one mechanism underlying the health-promoting benefits of mindfulness. This study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of decentering in the relationship of mindfulness with psychological problems. Moreover, this study examined whether age and clinical status moderated this relationship.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Method</h3><p>This study systematically reviewed prior studies published until May 2023. Data were extracted from survey results in observational studies and from baseline scores in intervention studies. The technique of meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) was applied to analyze the aggregated data. Moderator analyses examined the role of individual characteristics in the relations between (1) mindfulness and decentering, (2) decentering and psychological problems, and (3) mindfulness and psychological problems.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The final meta-analysis included 110 effect sizes extracted from 57 studies, with a total number of 18,515 participants. Overall, the MASEM results showed that mindfulness had a positive, large direct effect on decentering (<i>β</i> = 0.42, 95% CI[0.38, 0.47]), and a negative, small-to-medium direct effect on psychological problems (<i>β</i> = − 0.25, 95% CI[− 0.31, − 0.20]). Decentering also had a negative, modest direct effect on psychological problems (<i>β</i> = − 0.24, 95% CI[− 0.29, − 0.19]). Regarding the indirect effect, decentering had a significant, small effect in the association between mindfulness and psychological problems (<i>β</i> = − 0.10, 95% CI[− 0.13, − 0.08]). Moderator analyses suggested that these effects were consistent across age and clinical status.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The current results provide preliminary evidence that the correlation between mindfulness and decentering carries over to psychological problems. Understanding this correlation is an essential step towards mapping out the underlying psychological processes moving from mindfulness to psychological outcomes. The cultivation of decentering skills should be embedded in mindfulness-based training to confer benefits on psychological problems. Moreover, secular programs that do not include cultural or spiritual aspects of mindfulness need to expand their current knowledge of what decentering involves and what impedes effective decentering.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Preregistration</h3><p>This study is not preregistered.</p>","PeriodicalId":18523,"journal":{"name":"Mindfulness","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Mindfulness","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02395-6","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
It has been assumed that decentering is one mechanism underlying the health-promoting benefits of mindfulness. This study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of decentering in the relationship of mindfulness with psychological problems. Moreover, this study examined whether age and clinical status moderated this relationship.
Method
This study systematically reviewed prior studies published until May 2023. Data were extracted from survey results in observational studies and from baseline scores in intervention studies. The technique of meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) was applied to analyze the aggregated data. Moderator analyses examined the role of individual characteristics in the relations between (1) mindfulness and decentering, (2) decentering and psychological problems, and (3) mindfulness and psychological problems.
Results
The final meta-analysis included 110 effect sizes extracted from 57 studies, with a total number of 18,515 participants. Overall, the MASEM results showed that mindfulness had a positive, large direct effect on decentering (β = 0.42, 95% CI[0.38, 0.47]), and a negative, small-to-medium direct effect on psychological problems (β = − 0.25, 95% CI[− 0.31, − 0.20]). Decentering also had a negative, modest direct effect on psychological problems (β = − 0.24, 95% CI[− 0.29, − 0.19]). Regarding the indirect effect, decentering had a significant, small effect in the association between mindfulness and psychological problems (β = − 0.10, 95% CI[− 0.13, − 0.08]). Moderator analyses suggested that these effects were consistent across age and clinical status.
Conclusions
The current results provide preliminary evidence that the correlation between mindfulness and decentering carries over to psychological problems. Understanding this correlation is an essential step towards mapping out the underlying psychological processes moving from mindfulness to psychological outcomes. The cultivation of decentering skills should be embedded in mindfulness-based training to confer benefits on psychological problems. Moreover, secular programs that do not include cultural or spiritual aspects of mindfulness need to expand their current knowledge of what decentering involves and what impedes effective decentering.
期刊介绍：
Mindfulness seeks to advance research, clinical practice, and theory on mindfulness. It is interested in manuscripts from diverse viewpoints, including psychology, psychiatry, medicine, neurobiology, psychoneuroendocrinology, cognitive, behavioral, cultural, philosophy, spirituality, and wisdom traditions. Mindfulness encourages research submissions on the reliability and validity of assessment of mindfulness; clinical uses of mindfulness in psychological distress, psychiatric disorders, and medical conditions; alleviation of personal and societal suffering; the nature and foundations of mindfulness; mechanisms of action; and the use of mindfulness across cultures. The Journal also seeks to promote the use of mindfulness by publishing scholarly papers on the training of clinicians, institutional staff, teachers, parents, and industry personnel in mindful provision of services. Examples of topics include: Mindfulness-based psycho-educational interventions for children with learning, emotional, and behavioral disorders Treating depression and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure Yoga and mindfulness Cognitive-behavioral mindfulness group therapy interventions Mindfulnessness and emotional regulation difficulties in children Loving-kindness meditation to increase social connectedness Training for parents and children with ADHD Recovery from substance abuse Changing parents’ mindfulness Child management skills Treating childhood anxiety and depression
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