Revealing the protective mindfulness-moderation on loneliness, depression, and quality of life among spinal cord injury survivors in a mixed-methods study

Loneliness, prevalent in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), is negatively associated with mental health and quality of life. Mindfulness is a potential moderator that may buffer the negative impact of loneliness. This study aimed to explore the moderation effects of mindfulness on the relationship between loneliness, depression, and quality of life among people with SCI. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study on SCI survivors in Hong Kong. Survey data (n = 72) including socio-demographics, mindfulness, loneliness, depression, and quality of life were analyzed using moderated regression with the SPSS PROCESS macro. Focus group interviews (n = 15) were analyzed using thematic analysis. Mindfulness significantly moderated the positive association between loneliness and depression (B= −0.060, p = 0.006), and a cutoff value (>116.569) for moderation was identified. The mindfulness moderation on the relationship between loneliness and quality of life was insignificant. Three themes were generated: connectedness contributes to subjective well-being, mindful perceptions foster emotional resilience and happiness, and mindful perceptions enhance physical health and social connections. This study revealed the protective moderation mechanism of mindfulness in buffering the negative impacts of loneliness on depression, providing a strong theoretical foundation for the use of mindfulness-based interventions in improving mental well-being among SCI survivors. Mindfulness appears to buffer the negative impacts of loneliness on depression among individuals with spinal cord injury.Mindfulness-based interventions are recommended to enhance the mental well-being of spinal cord injury survivors, who are particularly vulnerable to loneliness.Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, are encouraged to be included in rehabilitation routines by professionals. Mindfulness appears to buffer the negative impacts of loneliness on depression among individuals with spinal cord injury. Mindfulness-based interventions are recommended to enhance the mental well-being of spinal cord injury survivors, who are particularly vulnerable to loneliness. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, are encouraged to be included in rehabilitation routines by professionals.