Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Chuntana Reangsing, Sasinun Punsuwun, Sarah Oerther
Journal of Affective Disorders May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.049 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,480 |
| Population | Pregnant women |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based interventions Pregnant women Meta-analysis |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced depression in pregnant women, with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy showing the largest effect. |
Abstract
We synthesized the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women. Ten electronic databases were searched from inception to September 2022. We reviewed studies on outcomes for pregnant women with depression receiving mindfulness-based interventions. We only reviewed studies written in English. A random-effects model was used to compute the effect size. Funnel plot, Q statistics, and I2 were used to test the heterogeneity across studies. We examined moderators to explore sources of heterogeneity. Across 19 included studies (N = 1480), 717 pregnant women participated in mindfulness interventions; 763 served as controls. Mean age ranged from 25.3 to 33.6 years. Overall, mindfulness-based interventions showed reduced depression compared to control groups (g = 0.457, 95%CI 0.254, 0.659, I2 = 68 %). With subgroup analysis, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had a greater effect on reducing depressive symptoms (g = 1.13) than mindfulness-based stress reduction (g = 0.64) and adapted mindfulness-based interventions (g = 0.31). No quality indicators moderated the ES of mindfulness-based interventions on depression. Mindfulness-based interventions significantly improved depression among pregnant women, especially mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Clinicians and health providers should consider using MBIs as alternative complementary treatment for improving and preventing depression in pregnant women.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Effect of mindfulness group therapy on maternal psychological distress and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025
- Bidirectional relationships between mindfulness and symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology May 7, 2025
- Mindfulness for maternal health: A systematic umbrella review of effectiveness for addressing depression and anxiety symptoms Journal of Affective Disorders Reports October 11, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Programs for Perinatal Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Meta-Review Mindfulness July 22, 2026
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety and depression among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical Psychologist February 9, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 10
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for residual depressive symptoms and relapse prophylaxis Current Opinion in Psychiatry December 11, 2015
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress, Depression and Anxiety During the Perinatal Period in Women Without Pre-existing Stress, Depressive or Anxiety Disorders: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Trials Mindfulness October 1, 2021
- The influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on stress, anxiety and depression due to unwanted pregnancy: a randomized clinical trial Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene March 1, 2021
- Effectiveness of Smartphone-Based Mindfulness Training on Maternal Perinatal Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Medical Internet Research August 11, 2020
- Effects of a mindfulness based childbirth and parenting program on pregnant women's perceived stress and risk of perinatal depression-Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders October 30, 2019
and 5 more in the library