Does Experimental Avoidance Mediate the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress?

The emotional wellbeing of students is an increasingly salient public health concern, as are the correlates of their wellbeing. Though the positive relationship between mindfulness and mental health is well-documented, it is important to further understand the mechanisms affecting this relationship. Research has shown that a complex association exists between mindfulness and experiential avoidance (EA), and that EA may mediate the connection between mindfulness and anxiety. The current study examined the mediating potential of EA on the relationship between trait mindfulness (TM) and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of undergraduate students. Results showed that EA partially mediated the link between TM and all outcome variables across two measures of EA. This is consonant with models suggesting that mindfulness influences mental health outcomes, in part, through reduced avoidance of internal experiences.<p></p>