The Facilitating Role of Dispositional Mindfulness in the Process of Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Investigation

Objective: Traumatic events can lead not only to psychological distress but also to posttraumatic growth (PTG). As trauma challenge one's fundamental assumptions, traumatized individuals may initially experience intrusive rumination. However, these challenged assumptions could facilitate further cognitive processing of trauma (i.e., deliberate rumination), which in turn fosters PTG. Adaptive cognitive processes, such as reduced rumination, have been linked to dispositional mindfulness. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the potential role of dispositional mindfulness in the process of PTG. Method: A 3-wave longitudinal design was employed to capture temporal changes in PTG. At the initial assessment (time 1), 259 traumatized individuals were assessed with regard to their trauma experiences, core belief challenge, intrusive and deliberate rumination, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), PTG, and dispositional mindfulness. The surveys were repeated after 1 month (time 2) and 7 months (time 3). Results: Over time, the first indirect association of core belief challenge was increased PTG through recent intrusive and deliberate rumination, and the second indirect association of core belief challenge was decreased PTG through recent intrusive rumination and PTSS. In addition, dispositional mindfulness significantly moderated these 2 indirect associations. Individuals with a medium level of mindfulness at time 1 had lower levels of rumination and PTSS at time 3 compared to individuals with a low level of mindfulness. Conclusions: In the face of trauma, dispositional mindfulness promotes resilience through a subsequent reduction in rumination and PTSS. Our results highlight the protective role of dispositional mindfulness in long-term outcomes of trauma exposure. Clinical Impact Statement This study highlights the protective role that dispositional mindfulness can play in long-term outcomes of trauma exposure. A medium level of dispositional mindfulness promotes PTG through a reduction in rumination and PTSS. This finding sheds light on the importance of developing a mindfulness-based intervention for people who have experienced trauma.