Mediating roles of positive reappraisal and stigma resistance in the relationship between mindfulness and quality of life among stable schizophrenia patients

The link between psychiatric conditions, quality of life (QoL) and mindfulness has been well established. In populations with schizophrenia, however, this link has not been extensively explored, and the psychological mechanisms that mediate it have remained unknown. This study aimed to examine the relations between mindfulness and QoL among individuals with schizophrenia. Positive reappraisal and stigma resistance are further explored as mechanisms through which mindfulness exert its positive effects on QoL. We recruited 254 individuals with schizophrenia in the outpatient clinic of a Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital. Participants completed the relevant measures such as Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale – Revised (CAMS-R), positive reappraisal subscale of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ, stigma resistance subscale of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, and Schizophrenia Quality of Life scale (SQLS). Hayes PROCESS macro for SPSS was employed for data analysis. Result supported the proposed hypothesis. Patients with greater mindfulness reported improved QoL. Positive reappraisal and stigma resistance independently mediated the relations between mindfulness and QoL. Such findings have shed light upon previous studies by emphasizing on the mediating role that positive reappraisal and stigma resistance play in transmitting the positive impact of mindfulness on QoL. Positive reappraisal and stigma resistance appears to be a core element in promoting the positive effect of mindfulness on QoL among people with schizophrenia and therefore should inform intervention targets.