The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19
C. Behan
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine May 14, 2020 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2020.38 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) meditation mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Meditation and mindfulness practices, especially MBSR, improve anxiety, depression, and pain scores and induce structural and functional brain changes. |
Abstract
Meditation and mindfulness are practices that can support healthcare professionals, patients, carers and the general public during times of crisis such as the current global pandemic caused by COVID-19. While there are many forms of meditation and mindfulness, of particular interest to healthcare professionals are those with an evidence base such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Systematic reviews of such practices have shown improvements in measures of anxiety, depression and pain scores. Structural and functional brain changes have been demonstrated in the brains of people with a long-term traditional meditation practice, and in people who have completed a MBSR programme. Mindfulness and meditation practices translate well to different populations across the lifespan and range of ability. Introducing a mindfulness and meditation practice during this pandemic has the potential to complement treatment and is a low-cost beneficial method of providing support with anxiety for all.
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 58
- Heart rate variability during mindful breathing meditation Frontiers in Physiology January 23, 2023
- Experimental Mindfulness Intervention in an Emergency Department for Stress Management and Development of Positive Working Environment Healthcare March 17, 2023
- The association of mindfulness and psychological well-being among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China: A cross-sectional study Journal of Affective Disorders September 23, 2022
- Effectiveness of a Mindful Compassion Care Program in reducing burnout and psychological distress amongst frontline hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Trials September 2, 2022
- An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 4, 2023
and 53 more in the library
Cites 11
- A pilot randomised trial comparing a mindfulness-based stress reduction course, a locally-developed stress reduction intervention and a waiting list control group in a real-life municipal health care setting BMC Public Health December 1, 2020
- Neural correlates of meditation: a review of structural and functional MRI studies. Frontiers in Bioscience March 1, 2020
- Meditation techniques v. relaxation therapies when treating anxiety: a meta-analytic review Psychological Medicine July 19, 2019
- Efficacy of the Mindfulness Meditation Mobile App “Calm” to Reduce Stress Among College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR mHealth and uHealth June 1, 2019
- Can the Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents (MARS-A) Program Be Provided Online? Voices from the Youth. Children August 28, 2018
and 6 more in the library