Mindfulness in Individuals at Risk for Depression: The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies

Abstract

A major aim of depression research is to study vulnerability factors for the onset and reoccurrence of the disorder. One area of research has investigated how mindfulness meditation can be used to prevent depression relapse in those with chronic recurrent depression; however, major gaps still exist in our understanding of how mindfulness may relate to depression risk and what role trait mindfulness may play in depression onset and reoccurrence. The goal of the current study was to explore whether cognitive emotion regulation strategies (rumination, cognitive reappraisal, and thought suppression) mediate associations between trait levels of mindfulness and positive and negative affect in at-risk populations, defined as having at least one previous episode of depression or having a parental history of depression. Participants were assessed using an online questionnaire format, and mediation models were tested using structural equation modeling. Both rumination and cognitive reappraisal mediated the relationship between trait mindfulness and positive and negative affect. The current study provides evidence for how mindfulness relates to depression risk through specific cognitive emotion regulation strategies and has implications for the role mindfulness plays in depression vulnerability and resilience.