Trait Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Among University Students: The Mediating Role of Rumination

Abstract

Trait mindfulness has been consistently associated with lower psychological distress, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship require continued examination. This study examined the relationships among trait mindfulness, rumination, and psychological distress in a sample of university students, and tested whether rumination mediates the relationship between mindfulness and distress. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed, and data were collected from 160 university students aged 18–25 years using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Data were analysed using Pearson correlation and mediation analysis. Results indicated that trait mindfulness was significantly and negatively correlated with both rumination (r = −.49, p < .001) and psychological distress (r = −.54, p < .001), and that rumination was strongly and positively correlated with distress (r = .61, p < .001). Mediation analysis indicated that rumination significantly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and distress, with the direct effect of mindfulness on distress substantially reduced when rumination was included, consistent with partial mediation. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness is associated with lower psychological distress partly through reduced rumination. The study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms linking mindfulness to mental health and discusses implications for mindfulness-based interventions and student wellbeing.