Role of mindfulness in well-being: mediating effect of emotion regulation

Research evidence has suggested the positive impact of mindfulness on wellbeing. However the aim of the study was to find out the mediating effect of emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal) between mindfulness and well-being. The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Brief Inventory of Thriving Scale measuring wellbeing were administered on a sample of 375 participants. Findings provide evidence that cognitive reappraisal dimension of emotion regulation plays the positive mediating role between mindfulness and well-being by enhancing wellbeing. The indirect effect is b = 0.19, the direct effect is b = 0.76, and the total effect is b = 0.95. Both direct effect, indirect effect, and total effect are significant. This explains the partial mediation of emotion regulation in which the path from mindfulness to well-being is reduced in absolute size but is still not zero when the mediator is introduced. This study highlights the importance of cognitive reappraisal strategy of emotion regulation in the relationship between mindfulness and well-being. The findings also provide suggestions for understanding how mindfulness and emotion regulation together may enhance healthy adaptation and well-being.