Decentering mediates the effect of cognitive reappraisal and distraction on mental health

Abstract

Previous studies have reported that cognitive reappraisal is related to decentering and mental health. However, there are two limitations in the current literature. First, it is unclear whether distraction facilitates decentering. Second, anxiety is the only index that has been used to assess mental health. Therefore, we examined whether cognitive reappraisal and distraction enhance decentering, which in turn improves mental health. Three hundred and eighty-seven university students answered questionnaires that assessed cognitive reappraisal, distraction, and decentering. Additionally, we measured depression, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction as mental health indicators. Our results confirmed that cognitive reappraisal and distraction influence mental health. In addition, decentering mediated the effect of cognitive reappraisal and distraction on mental health. These results suggest that distraction and cognitive reappraisal enhance decentering, which in turn, improves mental health.