Interplay of mindfulness, self-compassion and mental health among young Iranian university students: mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation

Background During the pivotal college years, mental health emerges as a paramount concern, with implications for academic success, personal growth and overall well-being. Aims To investigate the dynamics of mindfulness and self-compassion, exploring their roles in enhancing the mental well-being of 246 young Iranian adults in full-time university study during the academic year of 2022–2023. Method Utilising standardised questionnaires and structural equation modelling, we examined the relationships between participants’ mindfulness, self-compassion and cognitive emotion regulation and their mental health. Results Mindfulness, self-compassion and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation showed positive correlations with mental health. Adaptive cognitive emotion regulation emerged as a key mediator in the relationship between self-compassion and mental health ( P < 0.05). However, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation showed no significant relation. Conclusions Interventions aimed at enhancing mindfulness, self-compassion and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation hold promise in improving the mental health of young adults in full-time study.