The Reciprocal Relationships Between Negative Problem Orientation, Mindfulness and Depression

McDonald, Nicole (2012) The Reciprocal Relationships Between Negative Problem Orientation, Mindfulness and Depression. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)


Abstract

University students experiencing high levels of stress are vulnerable to experiencing symptoms of depression. Previous research has found a negative problem orientation is a particularly strong predictor of depressive symptoms and that mindfulness partially mediates the relationship between self-appraised social problem-solving and depression (Haugh, 2006; Argus & Thompson, 2008). The present study sought to extrapolate the reciprocal relationships between negative problem orientation, mindfulness and depression in a University student population through path analysis. A sample of 124 students (108 females, 16 males; mean age 35.06 years) completed the Problem Solving Inventory – 12 item (PSI-12), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale – 21 item (DASS-21) at two time points, six weeks apart. In contrast to prior findings, no feedback loop was observed between negative problem orientation and depression. Consistent with theoretical predictions, a feedback loop was observed between negative problem orientation and mindfulness. The final model was able to predict 49% of the variance for DASS-21 depression scores at time two. The findings support incorporating a mindfulness component may improve the efficacy of problem-solving interventions to reduce depressive symptoms in students.


Statistics for USQ ePrint 52556
Statistics for this ePrint Item
Item Type: Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours)
Item Status: Live Archive
Additional Information: Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Supervisors: Gavin Beccaria
Qualification: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Date Deposited: 06 Oct 2025 23:36
Last Modified: 06 Oct 2025 23:36
Uncontrolled Keywords: social problem-solving ; negative problem orientation ; mindfulness ; depression
Fields of Research (2008): 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (2020): 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52556

Actions (login required)

View Item Archive Repository Staff Only