Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Psychological Stress in Medical Students: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: Medical students are frequently exposed to high levels of psychological stress due to demanding academic workloads and individual responsibilities. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been increasingly explored as strategies to improve mental well-being of this population. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of MBIs on psychological stress among medical students.

Methods: A systematic search of three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines upon protocol registration in PROSPERO. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies assessing mindfulness interventions in medical students were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for RCTs and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies.

Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, including fourteen RCTs and seven non-randomized studies. The types of MBIs were variable between the included studies, including mainly Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) but also Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT). The interventions were also heterogeneous in what concerns duration and format.

Conclusions: Although further research is required to address current methodological gaps, namely the variable types, formats, and duration of MBIs, this study suggests putative benefits of integrating mindfulness into medical education to promote psychological resilience.