Effects of emotion vocabulary size and sensitivity to bodily sensations on depression: examining the role of mindfulness in adjustment

Discov Ment Health. 2025 Jul 15;5(1):105. doi: 10.1007/s44192-025-00250-1.

ABSTRACT

Emotions consist of bodily sensations and emotional concepts. This study examined how sensitivity to bodily sensations and emotional vocabulary size, which encompasses knowledge of emotional concepts, independently impact depression, and whether mindfulness can modulate these effects. A cross-sectional online survey involving 470 participants assessed the influence of somatosensory sensitivity and emotional vocabulary on depression, and the potential moderating role of mindfulness. Results indicated that both bodily sensory sensitivity and emotional vocabulary size independently affected depression. However, mindfulness was found to moderate the impact of bodily sensory sensitivity on depression, but not the effect of emotional vocabulary size. These findings underscore the significance of both bodily sensations and emotional concepts in the etiology of depression and suggest mindfulness practices as a beneficial intervention for those with high bodily sensitivity.

PMID:40663263 | DOI:10.1007/s44192-025-00250-1