Predicting Psychological Symptoms Based on Mindfulness and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies
Keywords:
Mindfulness, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, University StudentsAbstract
This study aimed to examine the predictive role of mindfulness and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (adaptive and maladaptive) in psychological symptoms—stress, anxiety, and depression—among university students. This descriptive–correlational study was conducted on 375 undergraduate students at the University of Tabriz during the 2023–2024 academic year. Participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the 18-item Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Multiple regression analysis was applied to examine the predictive relationships. Mindfulness showed significant negative associations with stress, anxiety, and depression, indicating that higher levels of mindfulness were linked to lower psychological symptoms. Adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies negatively and significantly predicted psychological distress, while maladaptive strategies positively predicted higher levels of symptoms. The regression model explained 48% of the variance in stress, and all three predictors were significant contributors. Mindfulness and cognitive emotion regulation strategies play a pivotal role in shaping psychological symptoms among students. Strengthening mindfulness skills and promoting adaptive emotion regulation strategies may substantially reduce psychological distress in academic settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Reza Bahmani (Author); Zeynab Khanjani (Corresponding author); khalil Esmaeilpour (Author)
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