A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation intervention programs
Gwiyeon Jeong
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.12972/mpca.2026.36.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6,366 |
| Population | Participants in Buddhist meditation intervention studies from KCI-indexed or KCI-candidate journals |
| Interventions | Buddhist meditation intervention programs MBSR MBCT mindfulness-based programs yoga meditation compassion meditation counseling-therapy meditation |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Mindfulness meditation Compassion Clinical psychology Test biology Statistical analysis Statistical significance |
| Key findings | Buddhist meditation programs produce a small-to-medium overall positive effect on psychological health (g = .250), with MBSR/MBCT programs being most effective. |
Abstract
This study conducted a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation intervention programs on psychological health outcomes. A total of 138 studies published between 2024 and 2025, listed in KCI-indexed or KCI-candidate journals, involving 6,366 participants were analyzed. Effect sizes were computed using Hedges’ g under a random-effects model to account for high heterogeneity among studies. The overall effect size was g = .250 (95% CI: .040–.460, p < .05), indicating a small-to-medium positive effect. Heterogeneity was substantial (I² = 93.0%, Q = 1949.88, p < .001), and Egger’s test confirmed no significant publication bias (t = 1.886, p > .05). Subgroup analyses by intervention type revealed that MBSR/MBCT programs yielded the highest effect size (g = .766, p < .001), followed by other mindfulness-based programs (g = .716, p < .01) and yoga meditation (g = .726, p > .05). Compassion meditation (g = .115) and counseling-therapy meditation (g = .013) did not reach statistical significance. Regarding participant age groups, the effect was most pronounced among children (g = 3.364, p < .001) and adults (g = 1.360, p < .05), while adolescents and young adults showed non-significant positive trends. Analysis by program duration indicated that long-term programs exceeding 12 sessions demonstrated the largest and only statistically significant effect (g = .776, p < .05), suggesting that sustained practice is essential for meaningful psychological change. Outcome-specific analyses showed that Buddhist meditation programs were highly effective in enhancing positive psychological factors, including self-compassion (g = 1.641, p < .05), mindfulness (g = 1.132, p < .001), life satisfaction (g = .899, p < .001), and problem-solving competency (g = 1.100, p < .001). Significant reductions were also observed in negative psychological indicators such as depression (g = –.910, p < .01), perceived stress (g = –.774, p < .01), anxiety (g = –.727, p < .01), and emotion dysregulation (g = –.582, p < .05). These findings demonstrate that Buddhist meditation programs possess multidimensional therapeutic effects encompassing the cultivation of positive psychological assets, the alleviation of psychological distress, and the enhancement of practical life competencies. The results provide empirical evidence supporting Buddhist meditation as a viable complementary intervention for mental health promotion in the post-COVID era and offer practical implications for designing tailored programs in clinical and educational settings.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Meditation: An Integration of Current Evidence | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Wisdom-Based Buddhist-Derived Meditation Practices for Prosocial Behaviour: A Systematic Review Participants in mindfulness-based interventions incorporating Buddhist wisdom practices | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 2,185 |
| A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies on arousing or wake-promoting effects in Buddhist meditation | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Effects of Buddhist Walking Meditation, Walking Meditation or Mindful Walking on the Health of Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review Adults and older adults | 2025 | Systematic review | |
| Effects of Buddhist Interventions in Their Original Context: A Meta-analysis | 2026 | Meta-analysis |