Meta-analysis of mindfulness-based stress reduction for cancer-related fatigue: evidence from randomized controlled trials and implications for clinical practice.
Lin Wang, Zehao Yan, Xinran Zhang, Yiqian Gao, Shiyu Tao, Bo Peng, Yinghui Ai
Psychology, Health & Medicine February 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2026.2634903 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 570 |
| Population | Cancer patients |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cancer-related fatigue crf Meta-analysis |
| Key findings | MBSR significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue compared to conventional care, with a combined effect size of -1.15 (95% CI [-1.56, -0.74]). |
Abstract
This study aims to explore the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on alleviating fatigue symptoms in cancer patients during treatment. Cancer-related fatigue is a common and persistent clinical symptom that affects approximately 60% to 90% of patients, diminishing their quality of life and potentially interfering with treatment adherence. In recent years, this integrative approach combining psychological adjustment and behavioral training has gradually demonstrated unique value in the management of chronic diseases. This study employed a scientific method of integrating literature and data analysis, strictly adhering to international evidence-based research standards. We searched top domestic and international databases to gather research materials. After conducting a rigorous quality assessment of the collected clinical studies, we carefully selected 7 eligible controlled trials, covering data from 570 cancer patients, and used professional statistical software for effect evaluation. The heterogeneity test result was I2 = 79% (p < 0.001), with a combined effect size SMD of -1.15 and a 95% confidence interval of [-1.56, -0.74]. Compared with the conventional care group, patients who received MBSR showed significant superiority in reducing fatigue symptoms, with a noticeable overall improvement effect. However, the funnel plot revealed a slight publication bias. The quality of the included studies was generally moderate. During the literature quality assessment, it was found that some studies lacked detailed descriptions of group allocation and the transparency of information in the evaluation process needed improvement. Therefore, the main bias risk originated from insufficient reporting of allocation concealment and blinding implementation. Current evidence indicates that this therapy has a mitigating effect on cancer-induced fatigue. However, given the limited number of existing studies and small sample sizes, we suggest that future research should conduct larger-scale, more rigorously designed clinical trials to verify its long-term effects and further explore its underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction for persistently fatigued cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology August 17, 2014
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology April 1, 2010
- Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for survivors of breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology December 2009