Effectiveness of Mantra-Based Meditation on Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Yolanda Álvarez-Pérez, Amado Rivero-Santana, Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez, Andrea Duarte-Díaz, Vanesa Ramos-García, Ana Toledo-Chávarri, Alezandra Torres-Castaño, Beatriz León-Salas, Diego Infante-Ventura, Nerea González-Hernández, Leticia Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Pedro Serrano-Aguilar
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 13, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063380 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMantra-based meditation techniques produce small-to-moderate reductions in anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress, and improvements in mental health-related quality of life compared to control conditions. The evidence, drawn from randomized controlled trials, shows effect sizes ranging from g = -0.33 for depression to g = -0.59 for post-traumatic stress. However, the findings are limited by risk of study bias and a lack of studies with psychiatric samples and long-term follow-up.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Mantra-based meditation Mental health Meta-analysis Systematic review |
| Key finding | Mantra-based meditation techniques produce small-to-moderate significant reductions in anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress, and improvements in mental health-related quality of life compared to control conditions. |
Abstract
Meditation is defined as a form of cognitive training that aims to improve attentional and emotional self-regulation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of mantra-based meditation techniques (MBM), in comparison to passive or active controls, or other active treatment, for the management of mental health symptoms. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases were consulted up to April 2021. Randomised controlled trials regarding meditation techniques mainly based on the repetition of mantras, such as transcendental meditation or others, were included. MBM, compared to control conditions, was found to produce significant small-to-moderate effect sizes in the reduction of anxiety (g = -0.46, IC95%: -0.60, -0.32; I2 = 33%), depression (g = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.48, -0.19; I2 = 12%), stress (g = -0.45, 95% CI: -0.65, -0.24; I2 = 46%), post-traumatic stress (g = -0.59, 95% CI: -0.79, -0.38; I2 = 0%), and mental health-related quality of life (g = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.49; I2 = 0%). MBM appears to produce small-to-moderate significant reductions in mental health; however, this evidence is weakened by the risk of study bias and the paucity of studies with psychiatric samples and long-term follow-up.