Mindfulness and Related Factors in Predicting Undergraduates’ Psychological Distress

As the prevalence of psychological distress is high among undergraduates in the United States, efforts are still needed to investigate protective factors that are associated with such distress. This study explored a predictive model of psychological distress using mindfulness and related factors (i.e., decentering and deviation from balanced time perspective [DBTP]). Hierarchical multiple regression and mediation tests were applied to 176 undergraduate participants. Hypotheses were that (a) mindfulness and decentering negatively predict, while DBTP positively predicts, the psychological distress of participants; (b) DBTP partially mediates the relationship between mindfulness and psychological distress; and (c) decentering and DBTP synergically mediate the relationship between mindfulness and psychological distress. Approximately 57% of the total variance of psychological distress was accounted for by variables of interest. Higher mindfulness, decentering, and lower DBTP predicted lower psychological distress. The data also supported the mediation effects. Implications for research and practice are discussed.