Mindfulness and Negative Emotions: Chain Mediation Effect of Perceived Social Support and Interpersonal Sensitivity

Abstract

Previous research has confirmed that mindfulness may decrease negative emotions in college students. However, there has been less focus on the mechanism of mindfulness’s effect on negative emotions. This study explores the relationship between mindfulness and negative emotions and examines the mediating role of perceived social support and interpersonal sensitivity among college students in China. A total of 386 college students (65.8% female, 34.2% male) completed measures of The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), The 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and The Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). Using model 6 in SPSS PROCESS macro 3.3 software, we found： (1) mindfulness was negatively related to negative emotions; (2) interpersonal sensitivity mediated the relationship between mindfulness and negative emotions; (3) mindfulness was negatively related to negative emotions through the chain mediating of perceived social support and interpersonal sensitivity. Mindfulness, perceived social support, interpersonal sensitivity, and negative emotions in college students exerted significant associations with each other. Students can try mindfulness training to increase the perception of social support, reduce interpersonal sensitivity, and reduce negative emotions. The findings of this study may shed new light on the prevention and treatment of negative emotions among college students.