# The effect of trait mindfulness on rumination in college students: the mediating role of physical exercise behavior and optimistic intelligence quotient

## TL;DR

This study shows that mindfulness reduces rumination in college students, partly through increased exercise and higher optimism.

## Contribution

The study identifies exercise behavior and optimistic intelligence quotient as mediators linking mindfulness to reduced rumination in college students.

## Key findings

- Trait mindfulness significantly predicts exercise behavior and optimistic intelligence quotient.
- Trait mindfulness has both direct and indirect effects on reducing rumination in college students.
- The chain mediation effect of exercise behavior and optimistic intelligence quotient is significant.

## Abstract

To explore the mechanism of trait mindfulness's influence on college students' rumination and to analyze the chain mediating role of exercise behavior and optimistic intelligence quotient.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1983 Chinese university students (mean age of subjects 19.10 ± 1.07 years) using the Trait mindfulness Scale, the Rumination Scale, the Physical Exercise Rating Scale, and the Optimization Scale. Among them, 996 were male and 987 were female university students.

The direct effect value of trait mindfulness on college students' rumination was −0.013, the effect values of exercise behavior and music quotient in the relationship between trait mindfulness and college students' rumination were −0.005 and −0.003, respectively, and the chain mediation effect of exercise behavior and music quotient was significant with an effect value of −0.093.

(1) trait mindfulness significantly and positively predicts exercise behavior and music quotient, and significantly and negatively predicts rumination among college students; (2) trait mindfulness has significant direct and indirect effects on rumination among college students. trait mindfulness can significantly predict rumination through the independent mediating effect of exercise behavior and music quotient, and can also significantly predict rumination through the chain mediating effect of exercise behavior and music quotient.