Depression, anxiety, stress and mental well-being among Filipino sexual and gender minority university students: a cross-sectional study examining the mediating role of mindfulness

Background: The mediating role of mindfulness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) university students from lower-middle-income countries like the Philippines remains unreported. Aims: To examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the associations of depression, anxiety, stress and mental well-being among LGBTQ university students. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study included 223 LGBTQ university students from three higher education institutions. Data were collected from February to April 2025 using three self-report scales and analysed through structural equation modelling. Results: Depression (β D = −0.19, p = 0.036), anxiety (β D = −0.23, p = 0.035), and stress (β D = −0.25, p = 0.003) negatively associated with mindfulness. Depression (β D = −0.21, p = 0.008) and stress (β D = −0.32, p = 0.001) negatively associated mental well-being. Mindfulness was directly associated with mental well-being (β D = 0.36, p = 0.001). Mindfulness mediated the associations between depression (β I = −0.07, p = 0.050), anxiety (β I = −0.08, p = 0.049), stress (β I = −0.11, p = 0.006) and mental well-being. Depression, anxiety and stress accounted for 49.61% of the variance in mindfulness and 53.88% of the variance in mental well-being. Conclusion: Mindfulness mediated the associations between depression, anxiety, stress and mental well-being, such that higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress were indirectly associated with poorer mental well-being through lower mindfulness. These findings suggest relational pathways relevant to nursing assessment and mental health promotion, while remaining correlational.