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)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| 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 |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Adolescents Young adults Randomized controlled trials Depressive symptoms Meta-regression |
| Key findings | 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.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- The effect of a mindfulness-based stress intervention on neurobiological and symptom measures in adolescents with early life stress: a randomized feasibility study BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies April 15, 2021
- Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of a Low-Dose Mindfulness-Based Intervention in a Student Sample: a Randomized Controlled Trial Mindfulness April 1, 2021
- The Relationship Among Mentalization, Mindfulness, Working Memory, and Schizotypal Personality Traits in the General Population Frontiers in Psychology May 2, 2022
- The Role of Attentional Control in Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Longitudinal Mediation Analyses. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2024
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Cites 17
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