Too much or not enough of a good thing? Reconciling differing perspectives on the optimal dose of mindfulness meditation and advancing a dose-response research agenda
Nicholas Bowles, Jonathan N. Davies, Sarah Strohmaier, Julieta Galante, Nicholas T. van Dam
June 23, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/zmwtp (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Context archaeology Mindfulness meditation Psychosocial Psychotherapist Empirical research Engineering ethics Epistemology |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Limitations in previous studies' dose ranges and analytic approaches reduce the ability to understand dose-response effects of mindfulness meditation. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation is now practiced broadly in both religious and secular contexts, with numerous studies indicating potential benefits across a range of psychosocial domains. However, despite significant research effort, we still know little about dose-response effects – how frequently or for how longindividuals might need to practice mindfulness meditation to achieve certain practice goals. Increasingly, recommended amounts of practice are becoming shorter while the impact of this reduction on outcomes in unclear. We review and critically appraise the state of knowledge about dose-response effects drawn from empirical investigations, traditional sources, and trends in contemporary teachingand practice. We argue that limitations inherent to the range of doses and analytic approaches used in previous studies reduce our ability to inform the dose-response question. We propose a practical research agenda that prioritizes the question of dose-response, incorporating design features that are optimizedspecifically to understanding the dose-response relationship and how it might vary between outcomes and individuals. Prioritizing the dose-response agenda will allow us to reconcile differences between knowledge sources and enable us to optimize mindfulness offerings based on the individual, their goals, and the context in which they practice.
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 9
- Dose–response effects of reported meditation practice on mental‐health and wellbeing: A prospective longitudinal study Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being August 1, 2025
- Beyond serenity: Adverse effects of meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice. Current Opinion in Psychology February 1, 2026
- The Mindful Scientist: How Meditation Could Support Ethical Scientific Practice Mindfulness September 2, 2025
- Mindfulness and Informed Consent: Navigating Ethical Complexity Across Contexts Mindfulness August 1, 2026
- Real-World Meditation App Engagement: Longitudinal Study of the Medito Meditation App. JMIR mHealth and uHealth June 8, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 37
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
and 32 more in the library