The association between mindfulness and social anxiety in university students: the chain mediation role of rumination and self-compassion

Background This study examined the association between mindfulness and social anxiety among university students and tested the chain mediating roles of self-compassion and rumination. Methods Using random sampling and online surveys, 860 university students (465 males and 395 females) completed self-report measures of mindfulness, social anxiety, rumination, and self-compassion. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed relationships. Results Mindfulness was significantly associated with lower social anxiety. Self-compassion and rumination mediated this relationship. Specifically, greater mindfulness was associated with higher self-compassion, which was in turn associated with lower rumination and, ultimately, lower social anxiety. Discussion These findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may help reduce social anxiety by enhancing self-compassion and decreasing rumination. The results provide practical implications for educators and mental health professionals. Future research could further examine the long-term effects of these mediating mechanisms across different populations.