Stress, Distress, Meditation and Mindfulness

The effects of mindfulness and meditation on the relationship between life event stress and distress symptoms were examined. Five hypotheses were tested: mindfulness as a moderator of stress and distress, meditation as a moderator of stress and distress, life event stress as negatively predicting mindfulness and meditation as a moderator of this effect, mindfulness as a mediator of stress and distress, and mindful observation as a moderator of stress and distress differentially among meditators and non-meditators. Main effects consistent with previous studies were found. Mindfulness was shown to mediate between stress and distress in a manner consistent with Baron & Kenny (1986). The nonjudgment portion of mindfulness moderated the stress-distress relationship only when each was accounted for. Mindful observation moderated the stress-distress relationship differentially by meditation status as predicted: highly observant persons who meditated showed a significantly weaker relationship between life event stress and distress than all other groups when life event stresses were high. Implications and directions for future studies are discussed.