Dispositional mindfulness mediates the relations between neuroticism and posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in Chinese adolescents after a tornado

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that neuroticism is associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in individuals who have experienced traumatic events. This study investigated dispositional mindfulness as one pathway in which neuroticism is related to PTSD and depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents who have experienced trauma by considering the role of dispositional mindfulness. Participants were 443 Chinese adolescents who had experienced a severe tornado a year prior to this study. The results showed that our model fitted the data well ( χ2 /df = 2.113, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.981, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.969, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) (90% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.061 [0.047, 0.080]) and revealed that dispositional mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism and PTSD and depression symptoms. The clinical implications and limitations of our research and recommendations for future research are discussed in this article.

Fear of COVID-19 and Mental Health: The Role of Mindfulness in During Times of Crisis

“…Path coefficients were standardized; insignificant path lines were dashed; ***p < 0.001 associated with decreased levels of anxiety and depression (Flett et al, 2020;Fong & Ho, 2020;Li et al, 2020;MacDonald & Olsen, 2020;Makadi & Koszycki, 2020;Soo et al, 2020). Moreover, several studies highlighted the mitigative effects of mindfulness on interpersonal problems (Janovsky et al, 2019), psychological distress (Masuda & Wendell, 2010), and, particularly, anxiety and depression (An et al, 2019;Lima et al, 2019). Taken together, the findings of the current study suggested that decreased levels of fear of COVID-19 contribute to greater levels of mindfulness, which in turn leads to a decreased risk of developing anxiety and depressive symptoms.…”

Role of Equanimity on the Mediation Model of Neuroticism, Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms

“…Mindfulness, a positive psychological attribute, has also been investigated to see how it affects neuroticism and depression. One study revealed that dispositional mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism, posttraumatic stress disorders and depression symptoms [31,32]. Along with mindfulness, equanimity, a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to emotions, pain or other circumstances, usually co-occurs with mindfulness, and it is the authors' primary interest.…”

Effects of extreme weather events on child mood and behavior

“…As a result, the authors suggest that clinical efforts to treat traumatized children should focus on optimizing the quality and function of the parent-child attachment. 49 This assertion is supported in a study by Felix et al who describe the protective influence of parent-child involvement in mitigating 'ataques de nervios' (attacks of the nerves) in Puerto Rican child survivors of Hurricane George. 50 Additionally, the adoption of household air-conditioning and high levels of neighborhood greenspace have also been identified as protective factors against the negative mental health effects associated with high heat exposure.…”

“…Further, the quality of the parent–child relationship was also inversely associated with both PTSD and degree of academic burnout in survivors of the tornado of 2016 in Yancheng, China. As a result, the authors suggest that clinical efforts to treat traumatized children should focus on optimizing the quality and function of the parent–child attachment 49 . This assertion is supported in a study by Felix et al who describe the protective influence of parent–child involvement in mitigating ‘ataques de nervios’ (attacks of the nerves) in Puerto Rican child survivors of Hurricane George 50 …”