How are Trait Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Decentering Related to Sleep Impairment in College Students? A Moderated Mediation Analysis by Gender and Race

Objective: Trait mindfulness influences perceived stress and sleep; however, it is unclear if this relationship is consistent across gender and race. Methods: College students at a public research university (n = 534, 65% female, 33% nonwhite) completed a cross-sectional online survey measuring three core qualities of mindfulness (trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and decentering), sleep-related impairment, and perceived stress. Multiple group structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether the impact of trait mindfulness on perceived stress and sleep-related impairment was moderated by gender or race. Results: Across gender (cisgender male, cisgender female) and race (white, people of color), there were significant indirect effects of higher trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and decentering on less sleep-related impairment via lower perceived stress (all p’s<.001). However, there was no evidence of moderation. The multiple group models explained 26%-39% of the variance in perceived stress (R2 = .26 to .39) and 25%-40% of the variance in sleep-related impairment (R2 = .25 to .40); large magnitude effects. Conclusions: The mediating effect of three core mindfulness qualities on sleep impairment and daytime functioning through lower levels of stress was consistent across gender and race. Future studies are needed to replicate and extend these exploratory findings using both broad and more refined (e.g., intersectional) demographic groups to further improve attention to diversity in the mindfulness field.