The impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy on individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers: A systematic review.
Dandan Luo, Wenjun Dang, Jie Luo, Yuwei Jiang
Journal of Psychiatric Research January 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.01.052 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13 |
| Population | Autism spectrum disorder patients and caregivers |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Autism spectrum disorder Caregivers Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Key findings | MBSR shows potential for improving anxiety and depression in adults with ASD and for alleviating stress and emotional distress in ASD caregivers, but evidence is limited. |
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers often face challenges such as emotional distress and stress management, which severely impact their quality of life. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) holds potential value in emotional regulation; however, there is a lack of systematic evaluation targeting the ASD population, particularly caregivers. This systematic review aims to clarify the clinical effects of MBSR interventions on individuals with ASD and their caregivers, providing a reference for the clinical implementation of targeted interventions. We systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, and CINAHL databases using predefined search terms and combinations, with supplementary handsearching for relevant literature. The search timeframe covered the period from the establishment of each database to October 1, 2025. This systematic review protocol has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD420251159313. A total of 13 clinical studies were included. The results indicate that MBSR demonstrates certain intervention potential for adults with ASD and their caregivers. Specifically, among adults with ASD (N = 8), MBSR may help improve emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. For ASD caregivers (N = 4), MBSR has shown preliminary effects in relieving psychological stress and improving emotional states, suggesting that it may provide potential psychological support for this population. It should be noted that only one study in the current evidence focuses on children with ASD, and the adolescent population remains uncovered. Preliminary research suggests that MBSR may hold potential value in improving anxiety and depression symptoms among adults with ASD, as well as alleviating caregiving stress and emotional distress among ASD caregivers. However, due to limitations such as the small number of included studies, limited sample sizes, and high heterogeneity, the current evidence remains insufficient in strength, and conclusions should be interpreted with caution. Future research should focus on conducting larger-scale, high-quality studies to enhance the reliability of findings.
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
Cites 20
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on depression, emotion regulation, and sleep problems: A randomized controlled trial study on depressed elderly. BMC Public Health January 23, 2024
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Brain Sciences September 30, 2024
- Distinct and shared therapeutic neural mechanisms of mindfulness-based and social support stress reduction groups in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2023
and 15 more in the library