Aesthetic Experience and Mental Health: Examining the Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Mindful Attention
Keywords:
Aesthetic Experience, Mental Health, Emotion Regulation, Mindful AttentionAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between aesthetic experience and mental health and to determine the mediating roles of emotion regulation and mindful attention among adults living in Tehran.
Methods and Materials: The study was conducted using a descriptive-correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of adults living in Tehran, and the final sample included 412 participants selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using standardized self-report instruments measuring aesthetic experience, emotion regulation, mindful attention, and mental health distress. Before the main analyses, the data were screened for missing values, outliers, normality, and reliability. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and structural equation modeling were used to examine the hypothesized relationships. The significance of indirect effects was assessed using the bootstrap method, and model adequacy was evaluated through standard fit indices.
Findings: The results showed that aesthetic experience had a significant positive effect on emotion regulation (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) and mindful attention (β = 0.39, p < 0.001). Emotion regulation had a significant negative effect on mental health distress (β = -0.31, p < 0.001), and mindful attention also had a significant negative effect on mental health distress (β = -0.35, p < 0.001). The direct effect of aesthetic experience on mental health distress remained significant after entering the mediators into the model (β = -0.18, p = 0.001). Bootstrap analysis confirmed the significant indirect effect of aesthetic experience on mental health distress through emotion regulation (β = -0.14, p < 0.001) and mindful attention (β = -0.14, p < 0.001). The total indirect effect was also significant (β = -0.28, p < 0.001), supporting a partial mediation model.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that aesthetic experience is associated with better mental health both directly and indirectly through stronger emotion regulation and mindful attention. These results suggest that aesthetic responsiveness may function as a psychological resource that supports emotional balance, present-centered awareness, and reduced psychological distress. Incorporating aesthetic activities into mental health promotion programs may therefore help improve emotional and attentional functioning in urban adult populations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Javad Adib; Hamed Amani, Aram Mohammadi, Mohammad Mirzaei Kootenaei (Author)
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