Mindfulness and Acceptance during Transitions in Emerging Adults (The MATE Study)

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage which involves personal, social, familial, cultural, biological, and psychological aspects of life. Significant decisions about career, life-partners, finances, education are made during this time. Studies suggest going through these transitions can lead to significant psychological distress. Studies also show that perceived social support can buffer the impact of these transitions on mental health outcomes. The current study assesses the moderating effects of psychological inflexibility and cognitive reactivity, constructs from ACT and MBCT, on the relationships between psychological distress, problematic drinking behavior, and perceived social support in emerging adults. Data were collected from 106 first-year college students from a small Midwest university. Participants completed self-report measures of distress, social support, cognitive reactivity, and psychological inflexibility. Psychological inflexibility and cognitive reactivity were positively associated with psychological distress and problematic drinking behavior, whereas psychological inflexibility and cognitive reactivity were negatively associated with perceived social support. Analyses of the potential moderating effects of psychological inflexibility and cognitive reactivity were not significant. The results suggest that developing mindfulness-based psychotherapy techniques uniquely directed towards the emerging adult population can be advantageous.