Hypotheses and objectives.

Objective

The main objective of our study is to assess and discover new information about the

association between the three variables (mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and hope) and also

examining if hope plays a mediating role in the association between mindfulness and depressive

symptoms. The mediation hypothesis examines if mindfulness projects a higher depressive

symptom via mechanisms that lower hope, the test also assesses the likelihood that the two

variables; mindfulness and depressive symptoms can be decreased for any individual who

exhibits a high level of hope (Jose and Huntsinger, 2005).

Hypothesis

the hypothesis in our analysis is that hope functions as a mediating role in the association

between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Additionally, to the study hypothesis, we posed

a research question; Does hope mediate the relationship between mindfulness and depressive

symptoms? From this, the study sought to get evidence that supports our main hypothesis and

also meets the objectives of the study through the data obtained.

Method

Participants

The sample size for our study consisted of 195 participants, with 36 participants in the

study being male, 157 participants being females and the gender of the two individuals that

participated in the study were not identified rather the two participants did not record their

gender. Due to data collection ethics, during the collection of the data, the study avoided the

collection of personal identifying information such as age, and hence the age of the participants
in the study was collected and represented in bands. In terms of bands, the sample constituted of

149 individuals aged between 19 and 22 years, 27 individuals aged between 23 and 30 years, 16

individuals aged between 31 to 65 years and 3 individuals who participated in the study did don’t

record their age band hence the age data for these three individuals was missing. In terms of the

age band, the majority of the participant in the study were aged between 19 to 22 years and the

and the smallest number were aged between 31 and 65 years of age.

Measures and procedure.

1) Depressive symptoms. The black Depression Inventory scale was used to

assess individuals' levels of depressive symptoms. Although the original scale contains

21 elements, our study chose 13 highly loaded items due to space and time constraints.

The participants were provided with statements such as "I've lost all interest in other

people" and "I'm constantly guilty." On a 4-point Likert scale, participants rated how

frequently they encountered a given emotional state over the past one week. The ability

to work, exhaustion, appetite, self-image, decision-making, interest in other people, and

self-blame were among the 13 highly loaded factors in the depression symptoms.

2) Hope. The Adult Hope Scale (AHS) was trimmed to eight items from the

original twelve to examine individuals' levels of hope (Snyder et al., 1991). Among the

elements covered in our study scale are the following: "I can think of numerous methods

to get out of a jam," "I pursue my goals aggressively," and "I can think of numerous ways

to obtain the things in life that are more essential to me." Participants reply to every item

on the measure using a four-point Likert scale ranging from definitely false (1) to

definitely true (4). Earlier studies have indicated that the AHS has a high degree of

reliability and validity (Snyder, 2000).

 3) Mindfulness. The Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) was

trimmed to 25 items. Among the elements covered in our study scale for mindfulness are

the following: "it is easy for me to get carried away by upsetting thoughts that I have”

and "I accept my feelings and thoughts." Participants reply to every item on the measure

using a five-point Likert scale ranging from never (1) to always (5).

Analytical procedure

We construct descriptive statistics for the three variables to determine their mean and

standard deviation. The mediation analysis began by determining the nature of the fundamental

relationship between the independent variable mindfulness, the dependent variable depressive

symptoms, and the mediator variable hope. Correlation analysis is used to determine the link

between these three variables. We next conducted a mediation analysis, interposing hope

between the independent variable (mindfulness) and the dependent variable (depressive

symptoms), to evaluate if substantial mediation could be achieved. The relationship between

mindfulness and depression is examined using simple slopes to determine how different amounts

of hope resulted in varied slopes. All analyses were conducted using the Jamovi software.
 Results

Descriptive statistics

Table 1: Descriptive statistics.

  Mindfulness Dep Hope

N 196 196 196

Missing 0 0 0

Mean 3.30 1.66 3.00

Standard deviation 0.55 0.50 0.46

 From table 1 above the mean for mindfulness is 3.30 wind a standard deviation of 0.55,

the low standard deviation indicates that the variability between the individual scores of the

mindfulness is low in relation to the average mindfulness score. The mean for Depression is 1.66

wind a standard deviation of 0.50, the low standard deviation indicates that the variability

between the individual scores of the depression is low in relation to the average depression score.

Correlation analysis.

Table 2: Correlation Matrix

    Mindfulness Dep Hope

Mindfulness Pearson's r —    
  p-value —    

Dep Pearson's r -0.61 *** —  

  p-value < .001 —  

Hope Pearson's r 0.48 *** -0.46 *** —

  p-value < .001 < .001 —

Note. * p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001

  Correlation analysis is applied to assess the relationship between different variables

(Nigmatullin, 2019). A positive correlation coefficient indicates a positive association between the

variables that is an increase in one variable leads to an increase in the other variable. A negative

correlation coefficient indicates a negative relationship that is, an increase in one variable leads

to a decrease in the other variable. From table 2, the correlation coefficient between mindfulness

and depression is -0.61 which indicates a strong negative relationship between the two variables

that is, an increase in mindfulness of an individual leads to a decrease in depression. The

correlation coefficient between mindfulness and hope is 0.48 which indicates a moderate positive

relationship between the two variables that is, an increase in mindfulness of an individual leads

to an increase in hope. Finally, the correlation coefficient between depression and hope is -0.46

which indicates a moderate negative relationship between the two variables that is, an increase in

hope of an individual leads to a decrease in depression.

 GLM Mediation Model

Models Info

     

Mediators Models    
  m1 Hope ~ Mindfulness
Full Model    
  m2 Dep ~ Hope + Mindfulness
Indirect Effects    
  IE 1 Mindfulness ⇒ Hope ⇒ Dep

Path model

Model Diagram.

Mediation
Indirect and Total Effects

95% C.I. (a)

Type Effect Estimate SE Lower Upper β z p

Mindfulness ⇒ Hope ⇒
Indirect -0.09 0.03 -0.15 -0.03 -0.10 -3.11 0.002
Dep
Component Mindfulness ⇒ Hope 0.40 0.05 0.30 0.50 0.48 7.76 < .001
  Hope ⇒ Dep -0.24 0.07 -0.37 -0.10 -0.21 -3.40 < .001

Direct Mindfulness ⇒ Dep -0.46 0.06 -0.57 -0.35 -0.51 -8.05 < .001

Total Mindfulness ⇒ Dep -0.56 0.05 -0.66 -0.46 -0.61 -10.74 < .001

Note. Confidence intervals computed with method: Standard (Delta method)

Note. Betas are completely standardized effect sizes

From the mediation analysis above, the p-value for the indirect effect is 0.002 which is

less than the hypothesized p-value of 0.05 hence the indirect impact is statistically significant in

our study. This indicates that mediation is present hence the variable hope can be used as a

mediator in the relationship between mindfulness and depression in the study. The estimate for

the indirect effect is -0.09 indicating that with hope as a mediator, there is a low negative

relationship between mindfulness and depression. The direct effect of mindfulness on the

depression symptoms has a p-value which is less than 0.001 hence the relationship between

mindfulness and depression is statistically significant with a coefficient of -0.46 indicating a

negative relationship between the variable mindfulness and depression. The p-value between

mindfulness and hope is less than 0.001 indicating a statistically significant relationship between

the variable hope and mindfulness. The p-value between depression and hope is less than 0.001

indicating a statistically significant relationship between the variable hope and depression.

Figure 1: path model for mindfulness and depression and hope as mediator.

Hope
Path b: B=-0.24
Path a: B = 0.40
 Mindfulness Depression
Total path c: B=-0.56,95% BSp CI (-0.66, -0.46)
Direct path c: B=-0.46,95% BSp CI (-0.57, -0.35)
indirect path c: B=-0.09,95% BSp CI (-0.15, -0.03)

Discussion.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether hope mediates the association

between mindfulness and depression using the sample dataset collected. The hypothesis that

hope mediates the connection between mindfulness and depressive symptoms is supported in our

study and the mediation analysis results. Specifically, the significant indirect impact indicated

that mindfulness predicted decreased positive hope, and the decreased hope, in turn, was

predictive of increased levels of depressive symptoms. In the moderation studies, hope also

weakened the association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Additionally, this

study adds new and useful information to literature by demonstrating that hope acts as a mediator

between mindfulness and depressive symptoms, i.e. specifying a mechanism through which

variable, hope, mediates between mindfulness and depressive symptoms, and also demonstrating

that the same variable, hope, to weaken the association between mindfulness and depressive

symptoms.
 Our findings, however, extend this hypothesis by indicating one process by which

mindfulness appears to predict increasing depressive symptoms, specifically that mindfulness

appears to project increased depressive symptoms via the diminishing hope. The estimate for the

indirect effect was -0.09 indicating that with hope as a mediator, there is a low negative

relationship between mindfulness and depression. The direct effect of mindfulness on the

depression symptoms is statistically significant with a coefficient of -0.46 indicating a negative

relationship between the variable mindfulness and depression. Hope also appears to act as a

buffer against the mindfulness-depression association; people with high and medium degrees of

hope demonstrated a considerably lower association between mindfulness and depressive

symptoms than those with low degrees of hope.

Limitations and suggestions for future researchers.

Because the primary findings were based on cross-sectional data, causation cannot be

inferred from cross-sectional data analyses (Jose, 2013; MacKinnon, 2008), the study results

must be repeated in a larger longitudinal study.   Additionally, while preliminary research

suggests that hope mediates the association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms, it is

highly possible that additional characteristics (both positive and negative) can be demonstrated to

mediate this relationship. Finally, experimental evidence (e.g., an RCT research) is required to

demonstrate that therapies aimed at increasing mindfulness and/or boosting hope can impact the

reduction of persistent unfavorable emotional states such as depression.

Conclusion
 The study was conducted to first evaluate the fundamental relationship between

mindfulness and depression, and then to analyze the role of hope in the association between

mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Our study's findings indicated that hope mediated and

moderated the fundamental link in question (relationship between mindfulness and depressive

symptoms). The results suggested that positive factors such as hope have a significant effect on

the association between mindfulness and depression, and the study also reveals the positive

significance of encouraging hope with the aim of lowering the negative association between

mindfulness and depression.

References

Jose, P. E., & Huntsinger, C. S. (2005). Moderation and Mediation Effects of Coping by Chinese

American and European American Adolescents. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 166, 16-43.

https://doi.org/10.3200/GNTP.166.1.16-44 

Snyder, C. R. (2000). Handbook of Hope: Theory, Measures, and Applications. San Diego, CA:

Academic Press.

Snyder, C. R., Harris, C., Anderson, J. R., Holleran, S. A., Irving, L. M., Sigmon, S. T. et al. (1991). The

Will and the Ways: Development and Validation of an Individual-Differences Measure of Hope.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 570-585.

Nigmatullin, R. (2019b). New approach in correlation analysis. Magnetic Resonance in Solids,

21(3). https://doi.org/10.26907/mrsej-19308