Examining trait mindfulness, emotion dysregulation, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Objective Dispositional mindfulness exhibits a positive association with quality of life (QoL). One potential mechanism for this association is enhanced emotion regulation abilities. Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a range of physical, cognitive, and affective impairments, thus reducing overall QoL. The current cross-sectional study examines the relation between trait mindfulness and QoL, mediated by emotion dysregulation in individuals with MS. Method Ninety-five participants with self-reported MS completed an online survey that incorporated self-report measures of trait mindfulness, emotion dysregulation, and QoL. Although clinically significant depression was exclusionary, we observed a wide range of depressive symptoms in our sample. These scores were thus entered as a moderator in the mediation analysis. Results Dispositional mindfulness correlated positively with QoL, with lower emotion dysregulation partially mediating the correlation. Depression scores moderated the observed mediation, such that the effect was stronger in those with higher symptoms of depression. Conclusions Trait mindfulness is positively associated with QoL in individuals with MS. Reduced emotion dysregulation may be a critical pathway linking mindfulness and QoL in MS, especially in those with higher symptoms of depression.