Meditation, Mindfulness, and Physiological Recovery: The Role of Adherence and Psychological Well-being in Anxiety Management
Meditation ., Mindfulness ., Physiological Recovery: The Role Of Adherence, Psychological Well-being In Anxiety Management
International Journal of Advanced Psychiatric Nursing February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.33545/26641348.2026.v8.i2a.242 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) |
| Intervention | structured meditation programme |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Heart rate Blood pressure Randomized controlled trial Rating scale Regression analysis Association psychology Clinical psychology Physical therapy |
| Key findings | Meditation adherence significantly predicted anxiety reduction and was associated with decreases in systolic blood pressure among participants with generalized anxiety disorder. |
Abstract
Background: The effectiveness of meditation for anxiety management is well-documented; however, the role of adherence and its impact on physiological recovery remains underexplored.
Objective: This study investigates the association between meditation adherence, anxiety reduction, and physiological outcomes (heart rate and blood pressure) in adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial (N = 110) was conducted. Participants in the experimental group (n = 55) completed an 8-week structured meditation programme. Adherence was measured as the percentage of total sessions attended. Anxiety outcomes were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and GAD-7. Physiological indicators included heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Data were analysed using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression.
Results: Meditation adherence demonstrated a significant positive correlation with anxiety reduction (r = 0.28, p < .05) and improvement in well-being (r = 0.32, p < .01). Participants with >80% adherence exhibited greater reductions in HAM-A (?8.5 points) and SBP (?6.2 mmHg). Regression analysis identified adherence as a significant predictor of post-test anxiety improvement (? = ?0.42, p < .01).
Conclusion: Consistent meditation practice contributes to both psychological and physiological recovery among individuals with anxiety disorder. Adherence is a key determinant of therapeutic success, highlighting the need for structured support and follow-up in meditation-based intervention.