title: A mediation model of mindfulness and decentering: sequential psychological constructs or one and the same?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mindfulness and decentering are closely related processes both assumed to promote well-being. While some researchers claim that mindfulness and decentering can be clearly differentiated others suggest to use these concepts interchangeably. The precise relation between mindfulness and decentering remains unclear and therefore the present study aims to determine the relation between mindfulness and decentering.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a structural equation modeling framework, a mediation model was tested among a sample group of 495 university students (average age 20.8 years, 30.3% female).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The identified model shows an acceptable fit to the data and illustrates the role of decentering as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and depressive symptoms by complementary mediation and indirect-only mediation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results cannot sustain previous research, which converted mindfulness and decentering into one single variable. Rather the data suggests to treat mindfulness and decentering as two separable concepts and to regard decentering as an important working mechanism of mindfulness.
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany ; Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Jägerstr. 17-19, 52066 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Gecht
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Ramona
authors: R
authors: Kessel
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Forkmann
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Siegfried
authors: S
authors: Gauggel
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Drueke
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Scherer
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 19, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Verena
authors: V
authors: Mainz
keywords: Decentering; Mechanism of change; Mindfulness; Multiple mediation modeling; Structural equation modeling