The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Psychological Health: A Narrative Literature Review
International Journal of Social Science and Human Research June 11, 2026 Gulcin Itirli Aslan, Prof. Dr. Kürşat Şahin Yildirimer
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are effective for reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. A narrative review of studies from 1982 to 2025 found clinically significant effects on anxiety (d = 0.63), depression (d = 0.59), and stress (d = 0.51). MBCT reduces depressive relapse risk by about 44% compared to usual care for patients with three or more prior episodes. Neuroimaging shows structural brain changes in the prefrontal cortex, insula, and hippocampus with sustained practice. Effectiveness depends on intervention duration, practice consistency, and baseline emotional regulation capacity.