Associations Between Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation: the Key Role of Describing and Nonreactivity

Abstract

Although it has been shown that mindfulness and emotion regulation are related, the nature of the relationship and the underlying processes are still not fully understood. The present study explored the relationship between mindfulness and emotion regulation at the facet level using both bivariate correlation analysis and canonical correlation analysis. A total of 211 adults (mean age = 56.4 years, SD = 15.3; 72.0% females) completed the short forms of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Heidelberg Questionnaire for the Assessment of Emotion Regulation Strategies. Three relationship clusters emerged between mindfulness facets and emotion regulation strategies: (1) a mindful emotion regulation cluster in which describing and nonreactivity were positively related with reappraisal and acceptance; (2) a suppression and nonreactivity cluster in which describing and nonreactivity were negatively and positively associated with both suppression of emotional expression and suppression of emotional experience, respectively; and (3) a negative self-monitoring cluster in which observing and nonjudging were positively and negatively related to rumination, respectively. These results suggest potential pathways through which mindfulness-based interventions might improve emotion regulation.