Mindfulness, psychological well-being and psychological distress in adolescents: Assessing the mediating variables and mechanisms of autonomy and self-regulation

This study investigated the relationship of mindfulness with psychological well-being and psychological distress and assessed the role of self-regulation and autonomy as mediating variables and mechanisms of mindfulness. Participants were 717 students (Mean age = 17/3 yr., SD = 0/56) completed the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS; Cardaciotto et al., 2008), the Self-Regulation Inventory (SRI-25; Ibanez et al., 2008), the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-28; Besharat, 2009) and the Autonomy Scale (AS; Parto, 2010). Mindfulness was negatively and highly correlated with psychological distress and was positively and highly correlated with psychological well-being. Autonomy was mediated relationships of mindfulness with psychological wellbeing and psychological distress, whereas, self-regulation was mediated only the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being. The findings provided evidence for the mediating mechanisms through which autonomy and self-regulation mediated the relationship between mindfulness with psychological well-being and psychological distress. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology, Counselling and guidance.