COGNITIVE RISK FACTORS, MINDFULNESS, AND EMOTION DYSREGULATION: ASSOCIATIONS TO ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations between core cognitive vulnerability, trait mindfulness, and emotion dysregulation, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. A university sample of participants (N = 185) completed an online survey to assess twelve measures which encompassed six cognitive vulnerabilities, mindfulness, difficulties in emotion regulation, and various internalising anxiety and depressive symptoms. Exploratory factor analyses assessed the factorial structure of each construct and found a one factor model for core cognitive vulnerability, emotion dysregulation, and internalising symptoms, and a two-factor model for trait mindfulness. These higher-order constructs were used in subsequent analyses to determine their relationships. Correlation analyses revealed that the transdiagnostic risk factors were correlated with each other and with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Mediation path analyses found that there was partial support for emotion dysregulation as a mediator between core vulnerability/mindfulness and internalising symptoms. This study contributes a novel perspective in (a) examining the three transdiagnostic risk factors (core vulnerability, mindfulness, emotion dysregulation) in relation to internalising symptoms, and (b) building a single model including all four constructs. Implications of this study as well as limitations and future areas of research are also discussed.