Predictive Associations of Dispositional Mindfulness Facets with Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Objectives In recent years, the number of studies on the relationship between dispositional mindfulness (DM) facets and depression and anxiety symptoms has increased notably. The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify the longitudinal predictive associations from DM facets to depression and anxiety symptoms in both adult and adolescent samples. Methods Studies were eligible if they measured anxiety or depressive symptoms at least two times and DM during the first measurement. This meta-analysis seeks to clarify the proposed relationships, applying a Two-Stage Structural Equation Modeling method to data collected from adult and adolescent studies. In total, 34 studies were included. Results The results indicated that, in adult samples, the facets of Acting with Awareness, Non-Judging, Describing, and Non-Reacting covaried significantly with depression and anxiety symptoms at time one, but only Acting with Awareness and Non-Reacting facets predicted a decrease of symptoms over time. Due to the scarcity of studies using childhood and adolescent samples, only the role of Acting with Awareness predicting depression was evaluated, and the results indicated that this facet predicts a decrease in depression over time among adolescents. Conclusions These results provide insight into the longitudinal relationships between DM facets and depression and anxiety symptoms and suggest the importance of focusing attention on these facets in mindfulness interventions.