The role of frustrated needs in predicting distress and hopelessness: mediation of mindfulness

Abstract

Frustrated psychological needs and low mindfulness are linked to mental health challenges and reduced wellbeing. The present study investigated how frustrations of autonomy, competence and relatedness needs were associated with psychological distress and hopelessness through mindfulness. A nonclinical sample of 437 university students completed self-reportmeasures. The relational patternsdiffered: Autonomy frustration was directly associated with both distress and hopelessness, while relatedness frustration was directly associated only with hopelessness. Competence frustration was indirectly associated with both distress and marginally with hopelessness through lower mindfulness, showing no direct association with either outcome. Mindfulness itself was negatively associated with distress and marginally with hopelessness. Intervention strategies and future research may consider the distinct relational pathways between need frustrations, mindfulness, and health outcomes.