A meta-analysis of the effects of mindfulness meditation training on self-reported interoception
Isaac N Treves, Ya-Yun Chen, Caitlyn L Wilson, Charles Verdonk, Joanne Qinaʻau, James E. Pustejovsky, Simon B. Goldberg, Wolf Mehling, Zev Schuman-Olivier, Sahib S. Khalsa
Scientific Reports November 6, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-22661-4 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,191 |
| Population | Adults (77.8% female, mean age 32.8 years) from randomized controlled trials of mindfulness interventions |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based programs other variations |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Interoception Psychological intervention Mindfulness meditation Mental health Randomized controlled trial Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions produce a small-to-medium positive effect on self-reported interoception (g = 0.31), with mindfulness-based programs showing the largest effects (g = 0.41), and these improvements are related to reductions in psychological distress. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation training may cultivate interoceptive awareness and provide therapeutic benefit when implemented within mental and physical health interventions. This pre-registered meta-analysis evaluated the impact of mindfulness interventions on self-reported interoception measures and associated relationships with psychological outcomes. Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials with 2,191 participants (77.8% female, mean age 32.8 years) were meta-analyzed using correlated and hierarchical effects models. Interventions included mindfulness-based programs (k = 15), body-based approaches (incorporating elements like massage, k = 8), and other variations (k = 6). Five SIMs were tested; the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness was the most common (22 studies). Results showed a small-to-medium positive effect on interoception measures across all studies (g = 0.31, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.21, 0.42]) with low-to-moderate heterogeneity (τ = 0.16). Mindfulness-based programs demonstrated the largest effects (g = 0.41). No evidence of publication bias was found. No other moderators, such as practice dosage or clinical sample, were significant. Improvements in self-reported interoception were similar in size to improvements in self-reported mindfulness and were related to improvements in psychological distress. These meta-analytic findings provide evidence that mindfulness-based interventions lead to adaptive changes in the subjective experience of interoception, perhaps contributing to improved mental wellbeing.
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 6
- Dissociative experiences and self-reported interoceptive traits in maladaptive daydreamers: a network analysis European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience June 23, 2026
- Hunyuan zhuang improves interoception: evidence from an expert-novice study and a pilot randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports March 3, 2026
- Feelings of Reality: Toward a Phenomenology of Experiential Realness Review of General Psychology July 23, 2026
- Supporting Uptake of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors: Generating Locally Relevant Estimates of Benefit Mindfulness June 1, 2026
- Linking Qualitative Mindfulness Reflections During MBSR to Meaningful Improvement in PROMIS Scores in a Young Adult Cancer Survivor Sample: The Role of Bodily Awareness. Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology May 20, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 38
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Interoception, contemplative practice, and health Frontiers in Psychology June 9, 2015
- 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
and 33 more in the library