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Coping Mediates the Association of Mindfulness with Psychological Stress, Affect, and Depression Among Smokers Preparing to Quit

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Abstract

It is not surprising that smoking abstinence rates are low given that smoking cessation is associated with increases in negative affect and stress that can persist for months. Mindfulness is one factor that has been broadly linked with enhanced emotional regulation. This study examined baseline associations of self-reported trait mindfulness with psychological stress, negative affect, positive affect, and depression among 158 smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation treatment trial. Several coping dimensions were evaluated as potential mediators of these associations. Results indicated that mindfulness was negatively associated with psychological stress, negative affect, and depression and positively associated with positive affect. Furthermore, the use of relaxation as a coping strategy independently mediated the association of mindfulness with psychological stress, positive affect, and depression. The robust and consistent pattern that emerged suggests that greater mindfulness may facilitate cessation and attenuate vulnerability to relapse among smokers preparing for cessation. Furthermore, relaxation appears to be a key mechanism underlying these associations. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT00297479.

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Acknowledgments

This research and preparation of this manuscript were supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA018875; PI: DWW), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (K01CD000086; PI: JIV and K01DP001120; PI: LRR), and the National Cancer Institute (R25CA57730).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Disparities Research – Unit 1440, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 301402, Houston, TX, 77230-1402, USA

    Jennifer Irvin Vidrine, Yumei Cao & David W. Wetter

  2. Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., V8.112, Dallas, TX, 75390-9128, USA

    Michael S. Businelle

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-5029, USA

    Lorraine R. Reitzel

  4. Department of Behavioral Science – Unit 1330, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 301439, Houston, TX, 77230-1439, USA

    Paul M. Cinciripini

  5. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Education and Research, School of Nursing, UT Health Science Center, 6901 Bertner, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Marianne T. Marcus

  6. Department of Biostatistics – Unit 1411, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 301402-7230, Houston, TX, 77230-1402, USA

    Yisheng Li

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  1. Jennifer Irvin Vidrine
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  2. Michael S. Businelle
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  4. Yumei Cao
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  8. David W. Wetter
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Correspondence to Jennifer Irvin Vidrine.

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Vidrine, J.I., Businelle, M.S., Reitzel, L.R. et al. Coping Mediates the Association of Mindfulness with Psychological Stress, Affect, and Depression Among Smokers Preparing to Quit. Mindfulness 6, 433–443 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0276-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0276-4

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