So called third culture kids (TCKs), the children and adolescents who accompany their parents on long-term overseas work assignments, often have to face life changes, cultural challenges and threats to social identity. The frequency, intensity and nature of these challenges arguably places some TCKs at heightened risk of stress-related mental health problems. Trait mindfulness, an attribute that can be enhanced through intervention, has been found to buffer against stress reactivity and common mental health problems. This study aims to explore the relationship between stress reactivity, trait mindfulness and depressive symptomatology among expatriate adolescents (TCKs) attending an international school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants included 230 high school students (57% female) from 45 different nations, with a mean age of 15.5 (±1.3, 12–19). Forty one percent had lived in the UAE for 7+ years. Participants completed measures of trait mindfulness, daily life stress reactivity, and depressive symptoms (CES-D). Mean depression score was high with 68.7% of TCK participants presenting as at risk of clinical depression. Lower stress-reactivity and greater trait mindfulness were associated with lower levels of depression; furthermore, low levels of trait mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between stress reactivity and depression. Efforts that aim to reduce stress reactivity and increase mindfulness might prove especially beneficial among the TCK population.

伴随着父母长期从事海外工作的所谓的第三文化孩子（TCK），儿童和青少年常常不得不面对生活的变化，文化挑战和对社会身份的威胁。这些挑战的频率，强度和性质可以说使某些TCK处于与压力有关的精神健康问题的更高风险中。特质正念是可以通过干预增强的属性，已发现可以缓解压力反应和常见的精神健康问题。这项研究旨在探讨在阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）的一所国际学校就读的外籍青少年（TCK）的压力反应性，特质正念和抑郁症状之间的关系。参加者包括来自45个不同国家的230名高中学生（女性占57％），平均年龄为15岁。5（±1.3，12–19）。41％的人在阿联酋生活了7年以上。参与者完成了对特质正念，日常生活压力反应性和抑郁症状（CES-D）的测量。平均抑郁评分较高，有68.7％的TCK参与者有临床抑郁风险。较低的压力反应性和较高的特征正念度与较低的抑郁水平有关。此外，特质正念的低水平部分地介导了压力反应性与抑郁之间的关系。在TCK人群中，旨在减少压力反应性和增强正念的努力可能特别有益。平均抑郁评分较高，有68.7％的TCK参与者有临床抑郁风险。较低的压力反应性和较高的特征正念度与较低的抑郁水平有关。此外，特质正念的低水平部分地介导了压力反应性与抑郁之间的关系。在TCK人群中，旨在减少压力反应性和增强正念的努力可能特别有益。平均抑郁评分较高，有68.7％的TCK参与者有临床抑郁风险。较低的压力反应性和较高的特征正念度与较低的抑郁水平有关。此外，特质正念的低水平部分地介导了压力反应性与抑郁之间的关系。在TCK人群中，旨在减少压力反应性和增强正念的努力可能特别有益。