Impact of mindfulness practices to improve quality of life and mental health of persons diagnosed with breast cancer: a systematic review.
Rithika Menon, T S Saranya
Frontiers in Psychology 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1641751 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Breast cancer Coping Mindfulness-based interventions Psychological distress Quality of life |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions, especially MBSR, significantly reduce anxiety, depression, and emotional distress and improve quality of life in individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. |
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.
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
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Perceived Stress in Women With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies Archives of Breast Cancer July 25, 2026
- Language-games in live mindfulness-based stress reduction: a philosophy of language analysis of participant-trainer dialogue Frontiers in Psychology March 17, 2026
Cites 14
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy on Healthy Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing September 4, 2018
- Effects of Mindfulness Therapy on Breast Cancer Patients with Depression or Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría March 1, 2025
- Effect of a 4-Week Internet-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery Intervention on the Symptom Burden and Quality of Life of Patients With Breast Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research November 22, 2022
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors with Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pain Research and Management July 7, 2022
and 9 more in the library