Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Natasha Yixuan Ong, Finn Jing Jie Teo, Jane Zi Ying Ee, Chun En Yau, Julian Thumboo, Hiang Khoon Tan, Qin Xiang Ng
General Psychiatry 2024 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2023-101115 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,506 |
| Population | Healthcare workers |
| Interventions | mindfulness-based interventions stress reduction programmes apps meditation training |
| Duration | Long-term outcomes (1 month or longer postintervention) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mood disorders Psychology, applied Psychology, medical Public health administration |
| Citations | 74 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions produce short-term improvements in stress-related symptoms and well-being among healthcare workers, but long-term effects are inconsistent. |
Abstract
Growing evidence attests to the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), but their effectiveness for healthcare workers remains uncertain. To evaluate the evidence for MBIs in improving healthcare workers' psychological well-being. A systematic literature search was conducted on Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 31 August 2022 using the keywords 'healthcare worker', 'doctor', 'nurse', 'allied health', 'mindfulness', 'wellness', 'workshop' and 'program'. Randomised controlled trials with a defined MBI focusing on healthcare workers and quantitative outcome measures related to subjective or psychological well-being were eligible for inclusion. R V.4.0.3 was used for data analysis, with the standardised mean difference as the primary outcome, employing DerSimonian and Laird's random effects model. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A total of 27 studies with 2506 participants were included, mostly from the USA, involving various healthcare professions. MBIs such as stress reduction programmes, apps, meditation and training showed small to large effects on anxiety, burnout, stress, depression, psychological distress and job strain outcomes of the participants. Positive effects were also seen in self-compassion, empathy, mindfulness and well-being. However, long-term outcomes (1 month or longer postintervention) varied, and the effects were not consistently sustained. MBIs offer short-term benefits in reducing stress-related symptoms in healthcare workers. The review also highlights limitations such as intervention heterogeneity, reduced power in specific subgroup analyses and variable study quality. CRD42022353340.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 28
- Effects of online mindfulness-based stress reduction training on depression and anxiety symptoms among psychiatric healthcare workers in a randomized controlled trial: the mediating role of emotional suppression. BMC Psychiatry June 4, 2025
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on menopausal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders July 15, 2025
- A systematic review of the mindful sport performance enhancement program International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology July 12, 2025
- Design Preferences, Routines, and Well-Being of Older Adults Using Voice-Guided Digital Mindfulness: Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR human factors June 3, 2025
- Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Psychological Outcomes in Surgeons: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World journal of surgery May 1, 2025
and 23 more in the library
Cites 22
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Mindfulness and Compassion: An Examination of Mechanism and Scalability PLoS One February 17, 2015
- Nurse Leader Mindfulness Meditation Program for Stress Management JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration March 1, 2009
and 17 more in the library