Exploring associations and indirect effects between mindfulness, psychological flexibility and wellbeing in adults with cystic fibrosis: Informing future interventions

Kauser, Sophia and Mantzios, Michail and Keyte, Rebecca and Egan, Helen (2025) Exploring associations and indirect effects between mindfulness, psychological flexibility and wellbeing in adults with cystic fibrosis: Informing future interventions. Chronic Illness, 22 (1). pp. 77-87. ISSN 1742-3953

Preview

Text kauser-et-al-2025-exploring-associations-and-indirect-effects-between-mindfulness-psychological-flexibility-and.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (440kB)

Abstract

Objectives

Increased psychological support is required to assist the long-term well-being of the adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) population. This research aimed to identify relationships between mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and wellbeing, as well as potential mediating effects of mindfulness to increase wellbeing in adults with CF.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 114 (56 female, 58 male) adults with CF completed and returned a series of validated questionnaires that assessed mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and wellbeing.

Results

Participants who demonstrated better psychological flexibility also had higher levels of mindfulness and wellbeing, and similarly, those who reported higher levels of mindfulness had better wellbeing. Mindfulness subscale scores indicated additional associations. Mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between psychological flexibility and wellbeing. A second mediation model suggested that specifically ‘acting with awareness’ (i.e., a mindfulness subscale) also partially mediated the relationship between psychological flexibility and wellbeing, highlighting the significance of mindfulness within promoting wellbeing through psychological flexibility.

Discussion

This research demonstrates the importance of mindfulness in the relationship between psychological flexibility and wellbeing. The findings provide promising preliminary evidence to suggest that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a therapy enhancing psychological flexibility through mindfulness, to be beneficial for enhancing the wellbeing of adults with CF.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1177/17423953251403206
Dates:	Date Event 16 November 2025 Accepted 9 December 2025 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cystic fibrosis, mindfulness, wellbeing, psychological flexibility
Subjects:	CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific)
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2026 14:09
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2026 14:09
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17165

Actions (login required)

View Item