Meditation for Insomnia: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Clinical Applications
Vijay Shanker Yadav, Km Megha, Ruchi Tripathi, Rohit Kumar, Bhola Nath Maurya
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2025 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17942026 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia yoga nidra mantra meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Insomnia Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Mantra Sleep onset latency Randomized controlled trial Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Rumination Sleep system call |
| Key findings | Meditation alleviates insomnia through mechanisms such as reducing hyperarousal, modulating stress-related physiological responses, and enhancing emotional regulation, and mindfulness-based interventions significantly improve subjective and objective sleep parameters. |
Abstract
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterised by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, which significantly impacts both physical and mental health. Pharmacological treatments, while effective, pose risks of side effects and dependency. Meditation, a mind-body practice with ancient roots, has emerged as a promising, non-pharmacological intervention for managing insomnia.This review aims to synthesise existing evidence on the role of meditation in alleviating insomnia, exploring its mechanisms, effectiveness across populations, and potential as a complementary therapy.A comprehensive analysis of the research literature was conducted, focusing on randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that examined meditation interventions for insomnia. Mechanisms of action, population-specific findings, and practical implications were also explored. Meditation alleviates insomnia through mechanisms such as reducing hyperarousal, modulating stress-related physiological responses, and enhancing emotional regulation. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia (MBTI), significantly improve subjective and objective sleep parameters, such as sleep onset latency (SOL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and insomnia severity index (ISI). Specific approaches like yoga nidra and mantra meditation have demonstrated efficacy in reducing sleep disturbances. Older adults, patients with chronic illnesses, and individuals with stress-related insomnia benefit particularly from meditation interventions.Meditation is an effective, safe, and holistic approach to managing insomnia, addressing both symptoms and underlying causes such as stress and hyperarousal. While robust evidence supports its use, further research is required to explore its long-term efficacy, neurophysiological mechanisms, and comparative effectiveness with other treatments.
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 |