Meditation interventions efficiently reduce cortisol levels of at-risk samples: a meta-analysis
Adam Koncz, Zsolt Demetrovics, Zsófia K. Takács
Health Psychology Review July 7, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2020.1760727 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | meditation interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Meditation interventions significantly reduced cortisol levels in at-risk samples (patients with somatic illness) but not in no-risk samples, based on blood sample studies. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Previous meta-analytic results showed beneficial effects of meditation interventions for cortisol levels. In the present meta-analysis we tested whether effects are larger for those who might be in need of such stress reduction programs due to a risk for elevated cortisol levels as compared to no-risk samples. We included RCTs that measured change in cortisol levels. Based on 10 studies using blood samples meditation interventions had a significant, medium effect from pre-to post-test compared to the control group. Upon closer inspection, this effect was only present for at-risk samples, that is, patients with a somatic illness. In the 21 studies using saliva samples the effect was small and not significant, but there was a marginally significant effect for groups living in stressful life situations. This pattern may suggest that that meditation interventions are most beneficial for at-risk populations. These interventions might provide people with strategies of stress management that can contribute to well-being. Preliminary results suggest that benefits of meditation interventions might not fade with time.
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
Cited by 34
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines November 15, 2024
- Susceptibility of Women to Cardiovascular Disease and the Prevention Potential of Mind–Body Intervention by Changes in Neural Circuits and Cardiovascular Physiology Biomolecules May 10, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation Training Reduces Gaming Cravings by Reshaping the Functional Connectivity Between the Default Mode Network and Executive Control-Related Brain Regions. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging August 1, 2024
- The effectiveness of the Wim Hof method on cardiac autonomic function, blood pressure, arterial compliance, and different psychological parameters Scientific Reports October 16, 2023
and 29 more in the library
Cites 25
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy Mind, Brain, and Education August 16, 2013
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
and 20 more in the library