A Review of Meditation-Related Meta-Analytic Studies in Korea
Humanities and Meditation Research Institute June 30, 2026 Jae-hyun Park
A systematic review of 15 Korean meta-analyses on meditation published between 2010 and 2024 identified four main research streams: psychological effects of Mindfulness-Based Therapy, program effectiveness for specific populations (adolescents, female college students, older adults), symptom-focused studies (depression, anxiety, stress, pain), and comparisons across meditation types (MBSR, MBCT, ACT). Meditation programs showed moderate to large effect sizes (g = 0.70–1.13), with consistent reductions in anxiety and stress. Methodological limitations included few randomized controlled trials, insufficient follow-up, and lack of standardized measures. Future research should include long-term follow-ups, comparisons across meditation types, neurological mechanisms, and digital programs.