The association of fatigue with dispositional mindfulness: relationships by levels of depressive symptoms, sleep quality, childhood adversity, and chronic medical conditions

Publication date: Available online 20 October 2019Source: Preventive MedicineAuthor(s): Robert C. Whitaker, Allison N. Herman, Tracy Dearth-Wesley, Kenneth Hubbell, Ryan Huff, Liam J. Heneghan, Peter C. RoweAbstractAlthough mindfulness-based interventions may be effective in addressing the common symptom of fatigue, no population-based studies have examined the relationship between mindfulness and fatigue. We determined whether higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were associated with lower levels of fatigue. Cross-sectional data were obtained through the Pennsylvania Head Start Staff Wellness Survey, a 2012 web-based survey in which 2199 of 3375 (65%) eligible staff participated. The analytic sample was restricted to the 2083 female respondents with complete data on dispositional mindfulness (Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale). We determined the mean covariate-adjusted fatigue scores in each quartile of dispositional mindfulness. This relationship was examined in the overall sample and within subgroups defined by levels of four variables: depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, childhood adversity, and chronic medical conditions. The sample was 86% non-Hispanic White, and 61% had a bachelor's or more advanced degree. The mean (SD) Fatigue Severity Scale score was 3.3 (1.3). The adjusted mean fatigue score decreased significantly and in a graded manner across higher quartiles of mindfulness, with the adjusted fatigue...
Source: Preventive Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research