The impact of effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on mindfulness and perceived stress in healthy adults
Advances in Complementary and Integrative Medicine September 11, 2025 DOI: 10.70462/acim.2025.1.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 574 |
| Population | Generally healthy adults |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness improvements ranged from 3.77% to 26.80% and stress reductions from 8.41% to 49.05%, with a strong positive correlation between increased mindfulness and decreased perceived stress. |
Abstract
This paper reviews and examines the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions in enhancing mindfulness and mitigating stress-related symptoms. Drawing on trial data from 13 selected studies involving 574 generally healthy adults, this research seeks to establish a robust correlation between heightened mindfulness and reduced perceived stress. We assessed mindfulness using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and measured stress reductions through self-reported questionnaires. Normalized effectiveness scores, calculated as percentages from pre-intervention baselines, enabled linear regression analyses. To ensure the integrity of our findings, we rigorously controlled for external influences by isolating MBSR as the exclusive intervention and MAAS as the sole mindfulness measurement. Aggregate data confirm positive outcomes: mindfulness improvements ranged from 3.77% to 26.80%, and stress reductions varied from 8.41% to 49.05%. Linear regression trendlines reveal a strong positive correlation between increased mindfulness and decreased perceived stress. This highlights the profound benefits of MBSR interventions in enhancing mental well-being and suggests their potential for widespread integration into mental health initiatives. Ultimately, this article not only underscores MBSR's role in promoting mental wellbeing but also offers a quantitative framework for predicting health outcomes based on mindfulness levels.
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 15
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Teaching self-care to caregivers: Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the mental health of therapists in training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology May 1, 2007
- The moderation of Mindfulness‐based stress reduction effects by trait mindfulness: Results from a randomized controlled trial Journal of Clinical Psychology December 22, 2010
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction effects on moral reasoning and decision making The Journal of Positive Psychology September 11, 2012
- Psychological benefits for cancer patients and their partners participating in mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Psycho-Oncology November 16, 2009
and 10 more in the library