Cognitive-affective factors affecting mental health in young adults: a structural equation modelling examination of mindfulness facets, metacognition, resilience, and creativity

Abstract

Objectives: to examine how mindfulness, metacognition, resilience, and creativity influence psychological distress in young adults and test two alternative pathway models.

Methods: cross-sectional structural equation modelling (SEM) tested two models in N = 841 non-clinical young adults aged 18 to 30. Psychological distress was operationalised as a latent factor using anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and stress (PSS-10). Mindfulness facets (FFMQ), metacognition (MSAS-18), resilience (ER89), and creativity (RDCA) were modelled as predictors or mediators depending on the model. Fit was assessed with standard indices (CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR).

Results: the model in which metacognition, resilience, and creativity related to lower psychological distress indirectly via mindfulness facets showed better fit than the reversed ordering (R2 = .54). Acting with awareness (β = -.29), nonjudging (β = -.39), and nonreactivity (β = -.20) uniquely predicted lower distress; observing showed a small positive association (β = .08). Resilience showed both a direct effect and indirect associations via increased awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity. Metacognition showed indirect associations via increased awareness and nonreactivity. Creativity showed bivalent indirect associations: higher distress via increased observing and lower distress via nonreactivity.

Conclusions: in young adults, attitudinal mindfulness facets, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity, showed the most consistent links with lower distress and appeared to carry the effects of metacognition, resilience, and creativity. The dual pathway of creativity suggests context-sensitive implications for mental health intervention design. Findings support prioritising these facets alongside careful integration of metacognition, resilience, and creativity when designing prevention and therapeutic strategies for this population.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Rose Seneviratne: orcid.org/0000-0002-5593-9483

ORCID for Matthew Garner: orcid.org/0000-0001-9481-2226

ORCID for Emma C. Palmer-Cooper: orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-1518

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