Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Xinli Chi, Ai Bo, Tingting Liu, Peichao Zhang, Iris Chi
Frontiers in Psychology June 21, 2018 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01034 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) moderately reduces depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 years at the end of an intervention. A meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials with 2,042 participants found a moderate effect (Hedges' g = −0.45) compared to control groups such as no treatment, treatment as usual, or active control. No statistically significant effects were observed at follow-up (Hedges' g = −0.24), likely due to insufficient statistical power. The average treatment effect may be influenced by the type of control condition, treatment duration, and participants' baseline depression levels.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,042 |
| Population | Adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 years |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Adolescents Young adults Randomized controlled trials Depressive symptoms |
| Key finding | MBSR had moderate effects in reducing depressive symptoms at posttest compared to control conditions, but no statistically significant follow-up effects were found. |
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness as a positive mental health intervention approach has been increasingly applied to address depression in young people. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in the treatment of depression among adolescents and young adults.Methods: Electronic databases and references in articles were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating MBSR and reporting outcomes for depressive symptoms among young people aged 12 to 25 years were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two reviewers independently. Hedges’ g with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to represent intervention effect.Results: Eighteen RCTs featuring 2,042 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Relative to the control groups (e.g., no treatment, treatment as usual, or active control), MBSR had moderate effects in reducing depressive symptoms at the end of intervention (Hedges’ g = −0.45). No statistically significant effects were found in follow-up (Hedges’ g = −0.24) due to a lack of statistical power. Meta-regression found that the average treatment effect might be moderated by control condition, treatment duration, and participants’ baseline depression.Conclusion: MBSR had moderate effects in reducing depression in young people at posttest. Future research is needed to assess the follow-up effects of MBSR on depressive symptoms among adolescents and young adults.