Impact of mindfulness practices to improve quality of life and mental health of persons diagnosed with breast cancer: a systematic review.

A systematic review of 20 studies found that mindfulness-based interventions, particularly Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), consistently improve mental health and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. Participants showed significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and emotional distress, along with enhanced quality of life, despite variations in session number and duration across studies. The review concludes that integrating mindfulness practices into cancer care can help address the psychological challenges of diagnosis and treatment, and recommends standardizing protocols and studying long-term effects.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and has a profound impact on an individual's psychological well-being. Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer often experience anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life (QoL) due to the physical and emotional burden of the disease. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as effective strategies to alleviate psychological distress and enhance overall well-being. This systematic review aims to examine the impact of various mindfulness practices on the mental health and quality of life of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. A comprehensive literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines across multiple electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Studies focusing on mindfulness interventions specifically designed for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer were included. Studies addressing other types of cancer or cancer survivors were excluded. The selected studies were screened through title, abstract, and full-text reviews based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The majority of the studies employed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as the primary intervention technique. Although variations existed in the number and duration of sessions across studies, the overall findings consistently demonstrated significant improvements in participants' mental health outcomes-including reductions in anxiety, depression, and emotional distress-and enhanced quality of life following mindfulness interventions. This systematic review provides strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness practices, particularly MBSR, in improving psychological well-being and QoL among individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating mindfulness-based interventions into cancer care programs to address the psychological challenges associated with diagnosis and treatment. Future research should aim to standardize intervention protocols and explore long-term effects on mental health and quality of life.