Mindfulness Meditation Yoga Mantra and Spiritual Practices for Mental Well-Being
Improving Mental Well-Being at the Intersection of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga May 9, 2026 DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-4187-3.ch002 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn integrative review of randomized and non-randomized studies (2010–2025) finds consistent small-to-moderate improvements in stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, quality of life, and spiritual well-being from practices combining mindfulness, meditation, yoga, mantra recitation, and spiritually oriented reading. Converging mechanisms include attention and emotion regulation, interoception and autonomic balance, compassion, and meaning-making. The authors distill pragmatic guidance for brief, blended programs with opt-in spiritual elements and validated measurement. Key gaps identified include comparative effectiveness of integrated protocols, dose reporting, mediator testing, long-term maintenance, active controls, and equity. Priorities for rigorous, culturally sensitive trials and implementation studies are outlined.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Integrative review with systematic searches Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Combined mindfulness, meditation, yoga, mantra recitation, and spiritually oriented reading produce consistent small-to-moderate improvements in stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, quality of life, and spiritual well-being. |
Abstract
Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, mantra recitation, and spiritually oriented reading are increasingly combined to support mental well-being. This chapter reports an integrative review with systematic searches (2010–2025) across major databases, following PRISMA 2020 guidance and using established appraisal tools. Evidence from randomized and non-randomized studies indicates consistent small-to-moderate improvements in stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, quality of life, and spiritual well-being. Converging mechanisms include attention and emotion regulation, interoception and autonomic balance, compassion, and meaning-making. Distil pragmatic guidance for brief, blended programs with opt-in spiritual elements and validated measurement. Key gaps concern comparative effectiveness of integrated protocols, dose reporting, mediator testing, long-term maintenance, active controls, and equity. We conclude with priorities for rigorous, culturally sensitive trials and implementation studies in community, clinical, educational, and workplace contexts. Guidance for design & practice.