Mindfulness and exercise-related health beliefs: associations with perceived stress dimensions among university...

University students frequently experience stress, appraisals that may negatively relate to health beliefs and motivation for physical activity. Dispositional mindfulness has been identified as a potential psychological resource that may be associated with more adaptive health cognitions under stressful conditions.

This cross-sectional study examined associations among the cognitive appraisal dimensions of perceived stress, mindfulness (stress-related inefficacy and helplessness), dispositional mindfulness, and exercise-related health beliefs in university students, testing whether mindfulness is indirectly associated with the relationship. Because the data are cross-sectional, mediation here refers strictly to statistical associations and does not establish temporal or causal relationships or evaluate actual exercise behavior.

A sample of 1,269 Turkish university students completed validated questionnaires assessing perceived stress appraisal dimensions (stress-related inefficacy and helplessness), dispositional mindfulness, and exercise-related health beliefs based on the health belief model. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate direct relationships and indirect statistical associations among the latent variables.

Both perceived stress dimensions were negatively associated with mindfulness and exercise-related health beliefs, while mindfulness was positively associated with exercise-related health beliefs. The model accounted for 67% of the variance in exercise-related health beliefs and 45% of the variance in mindfulness. Mindfulness showed significant indirect associations linking both perceived stress appraisal dimensions with exercise-related health beliefs.

These findings indicate that dispositional mindfulness is associated with more positive exercise-related health cognitions in the context of perceived stress appraisals; however, causal or protective effects cannot be inferred. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to determine whether mindfulness practices causally influence stress appraisals, exercise cognitions, or actual physical activity participation.