Mindfulness has emerged as an important psychological approach for strengthening emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, and adaptive responses to stress. The present study examines the relationship between mindfulness practices and emotional regulation mechanisms, with particular attention to emotional awareness, cognitive reappraisal, acceptance, attentional control, and expressive suppression. A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional research design was adopted.
Data were collected from 320 university students through standardized self-report measures assessing mindfulness and emotional regulation processes. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to examine patterns and associations among the study variables. The findings indicate that mindfulness is positively associated with emotional awareness, cognitive reappraisal, acceptance, and attentional control, while demonstrating a negative association with maladaptive expressive suppression.
Cognitive reappraisal and emotional acceptance emerged as particularly important mechanisms through which mindfulness may support effective emotional functioning. The findings suggest that mindfulness does not merely reduce emotional intensity but may alter how individuals notice, interpret, accept, and respond to emotional experiences. The study highlights the potential value of integrating structured mindfulness practices into educational, counseling, and psychological well-being programs to strengthen adaptive emotional regulation and resilience.