Communication Apprehension and Willingness to Communicate in Veterinary Medicine Students: Implications for Mindfulness and Communication Training

Abstract

ABSTRACT Across two studies we investigated the relationship among mindfulness, rumination, depression, stress, anxiety, communication apprehension, and willingness to communicate among veterinary medicine students. Study 1 tested a hypothesized path model of the relationship with 148 third-year students. Study 2 confirmed the path model with second sample of 160 third-year students. Mindfulness had a direct negative relationship with communication apprehension and a direct positive relationship with willingness to communicate, whereas depression, anxiety, and stress each had a direct negative relationship with communication apprehension and willingness to communicate. Rumination was also directly associated with communication apprehension and willingness to communicate, and it was mediated through depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings suggest mindfulness training may mitigate depression, anxiety, and stress and their attendant effects on communication apprehension and willingness to communicate.