Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018 Maya C. Schumer, Emily K. Lindsay, J. David Creswell 321 citations
Brief mindfulness training programs, ranging from single sessions to interventions lasting up to two weeks, modestly reduce negative affectivity such as depression, anxiety, rumination, and stress. A meta-analysis of 65 randomized controlled trials with 5,489 participants found a small but significant effect compared to control programs. Community samples showed larger benefits than student samples, while clinical and nonclinical samples did not differ. However, after accounting for publication bias, the overall effect was substantially reduced, suggesting unpublished null findings may inflate the apparent benefits. The findings highlight the need for continued rigorous evaluation of these increasingly popular interventions.