Smartphone mindfulness meditation training reduces Pro-inflammatory gene expression in stressed adults: A randomized controlled trial
Janine M. Dutcher, Steve W Cole, Adrian Williams, J. David Creswell
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity April 12, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.04.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Stressed customer service workers |
| Interventions | smartphone-based mindfulness meditation training program problem-solving control program |
| Duration | 30-day |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation Randomized controlled trial Psychological intervention Mindfulness-based stress reduction Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 29 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training reduced activity of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB transcription control pathway compared to an active control program. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation training has been shown to be an effective stress reduction strategy, but less is known about its immunoregulatory impact. In a randomized controlled trial of stressed customer service workers, the present study tested whether a 30-day smartphone-based mindfulness meditation training program (compared to a problem-solving control program) would affect pro-inflammatory gene expression. Both interventions led to reductions in stress levels, but there was no difference in stress reduction between conditions. Consistent with predictions, mindfulness training reduced activity of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB transcription control pathway compared to the active control. These results suggest that mindfulness training may be a particularly effective method for improving immune cell gene expression in stressful work environments.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- The meditation app revolution. American Psychologist August 7, 2025
- App-based mindfulness meditation reduces stress in novice meditators: a randomized controlled trial of headspace using ecological momentary assessment. Annals of Behavioral Medicine January 4, 2025
- Using Digital Technology to Increase Integration of Meditation into Daily Life: The Case for Meditation-Based Ecological Momentary Interventions. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science November 19, 2025
- Psychological assessments, allostatic load and gene expression analyses in a randomized controlled trial comparing meditation, yoga, and stress education. Frontiers in Psychology September 12, 2025
- Remodeling the Epigenome Through Meditation: Effects on Brain, Body, and Well-being. Sub-cellular biochemistry 2025
and 3 more in the library
Cites 10
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
- Mindfulness on-the-go: Effects of a mindfulness meditation app on work stress and well-being. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology May 3, 2018
- Mindfulness and Compassion: An Examination of Mechanism and Scalability PLoS One February 17, 2015
- How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology December 1, 2018
and 5 more in the library