Psychoneuroimmunology of Mindfulness: What works, how it works, and for whom?
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic stress Mind-body interventions Mindfulness-meditation Stress-management Immune-system Mind-body-wellness Inflammation-reduction |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Three central research gaps in mindfulness research are identified: lack of a unified theoretical framework, individual differences in responses to interventions, and need for adaptations to improve effectiveness and accessibility. |
Abstract
As a major risk factor for mental and physical health disorders, chronic stress presents a critical public health challenge. Over the past decades, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained empirical support as a promising approach to mitigating its harmful effects. However, important research gaps remain in the psychoneuroimmunology of mindfulness. This article synthesises the current state of research and identifies three central gaps that offer future directions for advancing the field. The first gap concerns the lack of a unified theoretical framework in mindfulness research, which hinders progress and cross-disciplinary integration. Researchers are invited to use the testable INterdiSciPlinary TheoretIcal FRamEwoRk (INSPIRER) that integrates the psychological, neural, and immune mechanisms by which mindfulness produces broad benefits across different levels of observation. The second gap refers to individual differences in responses to MBIs, emphasising the need for precision approaches to discover who benefits most and for whom these interventions may be contraindicated. Baseline levels of psychopathology are some of the participant characteristics that influence responses, but only further identification of participant characteristics and replication of existing ones will allow for more targeted interventions. The final gap addresses adaptations to existing MBIs that may further increase effectiveness or accessibility across diverse populations-such as varying intervention duration and doses of home practice or utilising technology. By addressing these three research gaps, we can advance the field of mindfulness in the 21st century and contribute to the development of cost-effective and personalised interventions that can be applied on a large scale to mitigate the effects of chronic stress and protect human health.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Bridging interoception and time perspective: toward an embodied model of consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology April 2, 2026
- Teacher-Guided vs. Self-Guided Mindfulness in Higher Education: Comparable Effects on Emotion Regulation, Trait Mindfulness, and Adverse Effects Mindfulness March 1, 2026
- Can we Predict Who Benefits Most From Mindfulness? Exploring Baseline Variables Influencing Responses to Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Young Adults Mindfulness August 1, 2025
Cites 40
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
and 35 more in the library