Wicks, Tiffany (2013) Mindfulness Skills and Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Automatic Negative Thoughts. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Recent statistics predict that by 2030, depression will account for the highest level of disability in both developing and developed countries (World Health Organisation, 2008). Evidently there is a requirement for efficient and effective treatments to manage the prevalent mood disorder, and in order to achieve this goal, superior understanding regarding mechanisms of change in therapies that address depression is required. Empirical research has repeatedly found a positive relationship between automatic negative thoughts and depressive symptoms in varying samples. Longitudinal research has also suggested that negative cognitions may play a causal role in predicting the onset of depression (e.g., Harrel & Ryan, 1983; Hollon & Kendall, 1980; Sahin et al., 1992). Recently a study by Kiken and Shook (2012) found that mindfulness, which has been associated with reduced depressive symptoms (Christopher & Gilbert, 2010; Hofling, Strohle, Michalak, & Heidenreich, 2011), may have an impact on depression via decreasing negative cognitions. The current crosssectional study aimed to extend on the research by Kiken and Shook by (a) examining the relationships between individual mindfulness skills, automatic negative thoughts, and depressive symptoms, and by (b) examining whether automatic negative thoughts would mediate the relationship between mindfulness skills and depressive symptoms. Mindfulness skills were assessed using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS; Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004). Automatic negative thoughts were measured using the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ; Hollon & Kendall, 1980), and depressive symptoms were assessed utilising the 21 item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Data were collected via an online survey, which 374 participants completed, including 71 males and 287 females. A wide variety of ages were represented, ranging from16 – 68 years with a mean age of32 years (SD = 12 years). The sample contained predominantly Australian and New Zealand Residents (N = 339), of which, 46% were students (N = 166) and 54% were individuals from the general population (N = 192). Results indicated that all KIMS subscales, excluding Observe (an individual’s tendency to pay attention to experiences), were significantly (p < .001) and negatively related to depressive symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from large to medium ( r = -.56 to -.34 respectively; Cohen, 1988). As expected automatic negative thoughts were found to be significantly (p < .001) and positively related to depressive symptoms, with a large effect size (r = .87; Cohen, 1988). Moreover all KIMS subscales, excluding Observe (which shared no significant relationship with depressive symptoms), were negatively and significantly (p < .001) related to automatic negative thoughts, with effect sizes ranging from large (r = -.58) to medium (r = -.36; Cohen, 1988). The current study also determined that automatic negative thoughts mediated the relationship between all mindfulness skills, excluding Observe and depressive symptoms. Although causality cannot be established, these findings suggest that mindfulness has an effect on depressive symptoms, via decreasing automatic negative thoughts. The findings from the current study consequently have implications for clinical practice, as the results provide evidence as to which mindfulness skills should be the focus of therapy when working with individuals who are affected by automatic negative thoughts and depressive symptoms.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| 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 Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Master of Clinical Psychology |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Oct 2025 01:36 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Oct 2025 01:36 |
| 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/52822 |
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