The effects of a mindfulness‐based stress reduction programme on pre‐sleep cognitive arousal and insomnia symptoms: a pilot study
Andrea L. Cincotta, Philip Gehrman, Nalaka S. Gooneratne, Michael J. Baime
Stress and Health August 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1002/smi.1370 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The programme lowered pre-sleep arousal and milder subjective insomnia symptoms post-intervention, with longer meditation practice in the final week associated with greater decreases in cognitive arousal scores, but no improvements in objectively measured sleep variables. |
Abstract
AbstractThe use of mindfulness meditation for stress management has grown in recent years. Practising mindfulness meditation has been shown to help manage stress and decrease arousal, both of which are associated with difficulty sleeping; thus, mindfulness‐based stress management programmes may have a positive impact on sleep. The effects of an 8‐week mindfulness‐based stress management programme on pre‐sleep cognitive arousal and insomnia symptoms were examined. Sleep was assessed with self‐report measures and objectively with actigraphy. Results showed lower levels of pre‐sleep arousal and milder subjective insomnia symptoms post‐intervention. Longer duration of meditation practice in the final week was associated with greater decreases in cognitive arousal scores. No improvements were found in objectively measured sleep variables. The results of this study suggest that mindfulness‐based stress management can lead to improvements in cognitive arousal and self‐reports of sleep, even in the absence of objective evidence of sleep improvement. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence ISRN Psychiatry November 14, 2012
- Effect of Brief Mindfulness Induction on University Athletes’ Sleep Quality Following Night Training Frontiers in Psychology April 12, 2018
- Falling Asleep on the Job: The Efficacy of a Short App-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Sleep Quality and Quantity Within the Workforce. Stress and Health February 1, 2025
- Delivering Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Insomnia, Pain, and Dysfunctional Eating Through a Text Messaging App: Three Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating the Effectiveness and Mediating Mechanisms (Preprint) May 6, 2021
- Delivering Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Insomnia, Pain, and Dysfunctional Eating Through a Text Messaging App: Three Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating the Effectiveness and Mediating Mechanisms Journal of Medical Internet Research August 28, 2023
and 8 more in the library
Cites 8
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- The effects of a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program on stress, mindfulness self‐efficacy, and positive states of mind Stress and Health June 10, 2004
- Meditation acutely improves psychomotor vigilance, and may decrease sleep need. Behavioral and Brain Functions July 29, 2010
- Polysomnographic and subjective profiles of sleep continuity before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in partially remitted depression. Psychosomatic Medicine July 2010
- Occipital gamma activation during Vipassana meditation. Cognitive Processing December 16, 2009
and 3 more in the library