A Systematic Review of Mindfulness Network Analysis Studies.
Danielle L Kahn, Aspen Martin, Claudia G Morris, Margaret Sala
Mindfulness January 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02722-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Core processes Mindfulness-based interventions Network analysis Psychopathology Systematic review |
| Key findings | Core processes in mindfulness networks include describing and accepting emotions; core facets are describing and acting with awareness. Protective factors such as self-compassion, well-being, and interoceptive awareness are central, and psychopathology symptoms central to mindfulness include anxiety, depression, and eating disorder features. Mindfulness bridges to psychopathology through rumination, acceptance, non-judging, non-reacting, and acting with awareness. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has been described as the ability to be aware in the present moment with an attitude of non-judgment. Network theory offers a novel framework to understand which symptoms are core (i.e., central) to mindfulness. Additionally, network theory and analysis provide an alternative way to conceptualize how mindfulness may be a protective factor against psychopathology. The primary aim of this paper was to provide a systematic review of empirical research that has used network analysis to study mindfulness. Studies were included if they were empirical, incorporated a measure of mindfulness, and used a network analytic approach. We identified 21 manuscripts. Core processes in mindfulness networks include describing one's beliefs, thoughts, and emotions in words and accepting one's emotions. In addition, core facets in mindfulness networks are describing and acting with awareness. Several protective factors were also identified as core to mindfulness networks, including self-compassion, well-being, and interoceptive awareness. Psychopathology symptoms that are core to mindfulness include features of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Mindfulness appears to bridge to psychopathology through rumination, acceptance of emotions, non-judging, non-reacting, and acting with awareness. There also appear to be several notable changes in mindfulness networks after mindfulness-based interventions. Future research should examine whether targeting core mindfulness processes may improve mindfulness-based interventions. Mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, depression, and eating disorders may be particularly effective. This study was not preregistered.
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 26
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
and 21 more in the library