Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on older adults with sleep disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Ana María González-martín, Agustín Aibar-Almazán, Yulieth Rivas-Campo, Alejandro Marín-Gutiérrez, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero
Frontiers in Public Health December 18, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1242868 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy non-institutionalized older people |
| Intervention | mindfulness-based program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Sleep disorders Older adults Systematic review Meta-analysis |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based programs reduced poor sleep quality in older adults, with a moderate negative effect size (Hedge's g = −0.344, 95% CI −0.425 to −0.263). |
Abstract
ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program on sleep quality in healthy non-institutionalized older people.MethodsThis study was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search was conducted during May and June 2023 using four databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Different keywords combined with Boolean operators were used. Only 10 articles of the initial 177 were included. In the study, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was used along with a 95% confidence interval to measure the effect. Heterogeneity among the studies, assessed using Cochran's Q-test and the I2 statistic was found to be low, leading to the use of a fixed-effects model in the analysis. The effect size was expressed as Hedge'g. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis was conducted, taking into account the various tools used to assess sleep conditions.ResultsMindfulness was found to reduce poor sleep quality in people with both long-term and short-term sleep disorders. Weighting effect model Hedge'g = −0.344 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from −0.425 to −0.263. In all cases, statistically significant results were observed, as well as moderate and negative effect sizes according to the Hedge's g index: −0.326 for Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), −0.343 for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and −0.28 for Sleep Onset Latency (SOL).ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis found that mindfulness can be used to remedy poor sleep quality in older people, so it could be a viable treatment option for insomnia or other problems related to poor sleep quality in this population.
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 5
- Design Preferences, Routines, and Well-Being of Older Adults Using Voice-Guided Digital Mindfulness: Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR human factors June 3, 2025
- The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Physiological Markers of Stress in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Synthesis Mindfulness December 2, 2025
- Hypnosis and mindfulness audio recordings for reducing fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal June 1, 2025
- Effects of an Age-Adapted Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Program on Psychological Well-Being, Mindfulness, and Sleep Quality in Older Adults Clinical Gerontologist June 5, 2026
- The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program on Sleep Quality among Urban Older Adults in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental Study Patient Preference and Adherence October 1, 2025
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
- Mindfulness meditation, time judgment and time experience: Importance of the time scale considered (seconds or minutes) PLoS One October 18, 2019
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to Improve Sleep Quality in Older Adults with Insomnia Intervencion psicosocial July 1, 2022
and 7 more in the library