Rattray, Deborah (2010) The Relationship Between Components of Mindfulness and Automatic Negative Thoughts in Predicting Stress. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between theoretical components of mindfulness (acting with awareness and accepting without judgement), and cognitive-behavioural theory (automatic negative thoughts), in predicting stress. Specifically this study sought to determine, (a) the relationships between acting with awareness, accepting without judgement, automatic negative thoughts, and levels of stress; (b) the relative contribution of acting with awareness, accepting without judgement, and automatic negative thoughts in predicting stress; and (c) whether an individual’s frequency of automatic negative thoughts had a mediating effect, on the relationship between both acting with awareness and accepting without judgement, and perceived stress. The participants were 261 students from the University of Southern Queensland, of which 207 were female and 59 were male, with ages ranging from 16 to 69 years. Participants completed an online survey assessing their levels of perceived stress, mindfulness, and frequency of automatic negative thoughts. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Karmack & Mermelstein, 1983), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (Hollon & Kendall, 1980), and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (Baer, Smith & Allen, 2004), were used to measure perceived stress, the frequency of automatic negative thoughts, and mindfulness skills respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between acting with awareness and accepting without judgement, and both perceived stress and frequency of automatic negative thoughts (p < .001). A significant positive correlation was found between frequency of automatic negative thoughts and perceived stress. Regression analysis indicated automatic negative thoughts and acting with awareness made significant unique contributions to perceived stress (p < .001), with automatic negative thoughts being the strongest individual predictor (β = .57). Accepting without judgement did not make a significant unique contribution to the prediction of perceived stress. Additionally, results indicated frequency of automatic negative thoughts partially and significantly mediated the relationship between both acting with awareness and accepting without judgement, and perceived stress (p < .05). These results suggest mindfulness may bring about declines in perceived stress, through facilitating a more decentred relationship with automatic negative thoughts, thus modifying their influence on the appraisal of potentially stressful situations. Specifically these results are consistent with criticisms put forward in the literature questioning the necessity of changing the content of thought in order to reduce psychological symptoms, and suggest the way an individual relates to those thoughts may be a more important focus. These findings suggest that therapeutic interventions that include the teaching of mindfulness skills may provide an effective treatment for stress and stress-related ill-health.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| 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: | Grace Pretty |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2026 01:40 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2026 01:40 |
| 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/52685 |
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