Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

17 Mar 2014Madhav Goyal, MD, MPH; Sonal Singh, MD, MPH; Erica M. S. Sibinga, MD, MHS

Mindfulness meditation programs had moderate evidence of improved anxiety (effect size, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.12-0.64] at 8 weeks and 0.22 [0.02-0.43] at 3-6 months), depression (0.30 [0.00-0.59] at 8 weeks and 0.23 [0.05-0.42] at 3-6 months), and pain (0.33 [0.03- 0.62]) and low evidence of improved stress/distress and mental health–related quality of life. We found low evidence of no effect or insufficient evidence of any effect of meditation programs on positive mood, attention, substance use, eating habits, sleep, and weight

Meta Analysis
7 effects
3515 subjects

Reported Outcomes

DeterminantsOutcomeDetails

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Depression Brain outcome
Minor decreased risk of Depression
Brain system

Moderate evidence
-30.0%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Anxiety Brain outcome
Minor decreased risk of Anxiety
Brain system

Moderate evidence
-38.0%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Pain Sensory outcome
Minor decreased risk of Pain
Sensory system

Moderate evidence
-33.0%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Stress Brain outcome
Minor decreased risk of Stress
Brain system

Moderate evidence
-10.1%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Irritability And Anger Brain outcome
Minor decreased risk of Irritability And Anger
Brain system

Low evidence
-20.0%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Subjective well-being Brain outcome
Minor increase risk of Subjective well-being
Brain system

Low evidence
27.5%

Meditation Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Meditation
Selfcare

Sleep Musculoskeletal outcome
Minor increase risk of Sleep
Musculoskeletal system

Low evidence
12.5%