Dolbier, C. L., Haley, E. N., Conder, L., & Guiler, W. (2021). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Psychopathological Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Dispositional Mindfulness. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 21, 73-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.06.001
Background
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a common occurrence that increase risk for psychopathological symptoms in adulthood. Dispositional mindfulness is modifiable and inversely related to childhood adversity, adult psychopathology, and mechanisms that account for this relationship.
Objective
This study examined mindfulness as a moderator of relationships between ACEs and adult psychopathological symptoms.
Method
Participants were undergraduate students (N = 560, Mage = 18.5 years, 69% female, 71% White) at a large southwestern public university. Students were recruited from Introductory Psychology courses to complete an online survey and received research credit for participating. The survey assessed ACEs, mindfulness, and symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and eating pathology.
Results
Moderator analyses revealed that mindfulness moderated the ACEs-generalized anxiety relationship, F (6, 552) = 48.55, p < .001, R2 = 0.33; interaction (t = 2.62, p = .01). As mindfulness increased, the ACEs-generalized anxiety relationship weakened.
Conclusions
Mindfulness may be a useful target for generalized anxiety treatment or prevention for individuals who have experienced ACEs.
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