Dual pathways linking mindfulness to life satisfaction and depression: the mediating roles of self-compassion and rumination in Chinese university students

This study proposes and validates the DPMM, a novel model explaining how mindfulness relates to mental health through interconnected self-regulatory processes. By identifying self-compassion and rumination as sequential mediators, the findings offer theoretical insights into the psychological mechanisms linking mindfulness to enhanced well-being. While the cross-sectional design precludes causal claims, the results provide a foundational framework to guide future longitudinal studies and inform mental health promotion strategies grounded in mechanism-based understanding.