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. 2019 Apr;35(2):146-156.
doi: 10.1002/smi.2850. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

On the role of mindfulness and compassion skills in students' coping, well-being, and development across the transition to college: A conceptual analysis

Kamila Dvořáková  1   2 , Mark T Greenberg  1 , Robert W Roeser  1
Affiliations

On the role of mindfulness and compassion skills in students' coping, well-being, and development across the transition to college: A conceptual analysis

Kamila Dvořáková et al. Stress Health. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to integrate the current conceptual approaches to stress and coping processes during the college transition with the potential role of mindfulness and compassion (MC) skills on students' well-being and development. First, we provide an overview of the issues and challenges emerging adults are facing during the transition to college, drawing on the revised version of the transactional stress model by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Second, we introduce a conceptual model of adaptive stress and coping processes enhanced by MC skills to positively impact the appraisal and coping resources and emerging adults' mental health. Specifically, MC skills may play an important role in promoting a healthy stress response by strengthening emerging adults' socioemotional competencies and supporting the development of adaptive appraisal and coping resources, including processes antecedent and consequent to a coping encounter. In particular, MC skills were hypothesized to enhance (a) preparedness to cope, (b) productive stress response through adaptive appraisals and skillful deployment of coping resources, and (c) healthy postcoping reflections. Therefore, MC skills may be a useful preventive tool to strengthen emerging adults' ability to adjust to a new academic environment and fulfil the developmental tasks of this period.

Keywords: college stress; compassion; coping; developmental transitions; mindfulness.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Factors affecting healthy adjustment during the transition to college (adapted from Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Adaptive stress and coping processes enhanced by mindfulness and compassion skills
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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