The effects process of effortful control and mindfulness on impulsivity and depression among Japanese university students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine applicability of a statistical model for university students, which predicts both impulsivity and depression from effortful control (EC) and mindfulness.

One hundred and eighty-six university students voluntarily participated in the questionnaire survey as follows: Adult Effortful Control Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and Beck Depression Inventory.

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) confirmed the statistical model showing good fit that impulsivity was directly affected by EC without mediating mindfulness. On the other hand, that depression was not directly affected by EC, but was indirectly affected by EC with mediating mindfulness.

These results suggest that increasing EC could reduce impulsivity and increasing both EC and mindfulness could reduce depression.