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Cited by 7Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Mindfulness reduces adolescent depression through stress appraisal and cognitive reactivity: evidence from a four-wave longitudinal study

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Ćavar Mišković, Filipa, Milas, Goran·2025·Medicina
DOI 10.3390/medicina61071154PMC PMC12299247
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: Adolescence is a critical yet vulnerable developmental stage, characterized by increased exposure to stressful life events (SLEs), which are strongly linked to the onset and progression of depression. Although mindfulness has been consistently associated with lower depressive symptoms, the mechanisms underlying this relationship—particularly in adolescents—remain underexplored. Prior research suggests that mindfulness operates through cognitive mechanisms, such as reduced rumination, enhanced emotional regulation, and greater cognitive flexibility. However, much of this work is cross-sectional, limiting causal interpretation and often overlooking distinctions between direct and indirect effects. This study aimed to clarify two proposed pathways through which trait mindfulness may reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents: (1) a direct pathway involving core cognitive–emotional processes, and (2) an indirect pathway, where mindfulness supports more adaptive stress appraisal. A secondary objective was to assess whether these indirect effects vary across different types of stressful life events. Materials and Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from 3897 adolescents (M_age = 15.9; 51.2% female) across four waves spaced approximately six months apart. Structural equation modeling (AMOS) was used to evaluate both direct and indirect effects of trait mindfulness on depression, with stress domains included in separate analyses. Results: Trait mindfulness was strongly negatively correlated with depression (r = –0.39 to –0.56). The direct effect of mindfulness on depression was substantial (β = –0.60 to –0.74), while indirect effects via cognitive reappraisal were smaller (β = –0.10 to –0.26 for stress reduction; up to –0.17 for depression). Indirect effects varied across stress domains and were generally modest. Conclusions: Mindfulness appears to reduce adolescent depressive symptoms through both direct and indirect pathways. The more pronounced direct effect likely reflects underlying mechanisms, such as reduced rumination and enhanced emotional regulation. Although weaker, the indirect pathway—mediated by more adaptive stress appraisal—adds meaningful explanatory value. Together, these findings underscore mindfulness as a key protective factor and highlight its potential for informing targeted, resilience-based interventions in adolescent mental health.

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  • Incorporating mindfulness elements into bibliotherapy can help adolescents better recognize and accept their emotions, thereby strengthening their capacity to cope with negative experiences.

    “Incorporating mindfulness elements into bibliotherapy can help adolescents better recognize and accept their emotions, thereby strengthening their capacity to cope with negative experiences (69).”

    From Recent developments in bibliotherapy for adolescent depression (2025) · cites this paper as [69]

    Sections 1.3 and 1.4 describe mindfulness as fostering awareness, acceptance, emotion regulation, and more adaptive responses to adolescent stress. The paper does not examine incorporating mindfulness into bibliotherapy, so it cannot support that specific application. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Ćavar Mišković, F., & Milas, G.
Affiliations
  • Institute of Social Sciences “Ivo Pilar”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Institut Društvenih Znanosti Ivo Pilar (HR)
Corresponding author
Milas, Goran
ORCID
Venue
Medicina
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-06-26
Volume
61
Issue
7
Pages
1154
ISSN
  • 1010-660X (ISSN-L)
  • 1648-9144
DOI
10.3390/medicina61071154
PMC
PMC12299247
OpenAlex
W4411696402
Cited by
7
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4
FWCI
8.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Medicina (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Croatian Science Foundation (IP-2020-02-6925, 01/08-73/23-2519-12)
  • European Union programme NextGeneration EU (IP-2020-02-6925, 01/08-73/23-2519-12)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
trait mindfulness, adolescent depression, life events, stress appraisal, cognitive reappraisal, rumination, emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, protective factors, resilience interventions, adolescent mental health
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Stress, Psychological, Mindfulness

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