Mediating Effect of Acceptance and Moderated Mediation by Emotional Reactivity in the Relationship Between Awareness and Anxiety

Background: This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of acceptance and the moderated mediation effect of emotional reactivity in the relationship between awareness and state anxiety.Methods: A total of 395 Korean adults participated in this study. Participants completed self-report measures of awareness, state anxiety, acceptance, and emotional reactivity. Data were analyzed using PROCESS macro to test for mediation and moderated mediation effects.Results: The findings indicated that acceptance significantly mediated the relationship between awareness and state anxiety. Moreover, emotional reactivity significantly moderated the association between awareness and acceptance. A significant moderated mediation effect was also observed, suggesting that the indirect effect of awareness on state anxiety through acceptance differed depending on levels of emotional reactivity.Conclusions: These results elucidate the mechanisms underlying mindfulness, indicating that its anxiety-reducing effects via acceptance depend on individual differences in emotional reactivity. The study offers suggestions for the clinical application of mindfulness-based interventions, emphasizing the importance of tailoring strategies to clients’ emotional sensitivity.