The mediator effect of mindfulness level adolescent on the effect of maternal anxiety level on the adolescent anxiety level

This study aims to analyze the mediator effect of mindfulness levels of adolescent on the relationship between maternal and child anxiety symptoms. The present study consists participants with 276 adolescents aged between 14-17 years old and their mothers who live in İstanbul. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), were used to evaluate the anxiety levels of the participants and the mindfulness levels of the adolescents respectively. At the same time, the sociodemographic information form was used to find out how these scales applied to the adolescents are affected by the socio-demographic variables regarding the family. Mediator effect analysis was performed as it was found out according to the research findings that the correlation between maternal anxiety level (state and trait), adolescent anxiety level (state and trait) and adolescent mindfulness level are statistically significant. As a result of the analysis, the effect of maternal state anxiety level on adolescent anxiety level (state and trait) was significant. But it was found that the mediating effect of mindfulness in this relationship was partially significant. In conclusion, the effect of maternal trait anxiety level on adolescent anxiety level (state and trait) was significant and mindfulness was found to have a full mediating effect in this relationship. Keywords: state anxiety, trait anxiety, mindfulness, adolescent, mother