Exploring the past, present, and future of the mindfulness field: A multitechnique bibliometric review
Aldijana Bunjak, Matej Černe, Emilie Lara Schölly
Frontiers in Psychology July 26, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.792599 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic quantitative bibliometric review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key findings | The review's co-citation analysis identifies measurement, mechanisms, mindfulness-based interventions, and efficacy examinations as core knowledge bases of mindfulness research; content analysis indicates beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation for physical and mental health conditions; and bibliographic coupling points to emerging directions in cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion regulation, child and adolescent applications, workplace mindfulness, and positive psychology. |
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the mindfulness literature up until the end of 2020 by (a) uncovering its underlying intellectual structure, (b) identifying the most influential and popular themes, and (c) presenting new directions for future research on mindfulness. To this end, a systematic quantitative review based on bibliometric methods was conducted, which is perhaps less prone to researcher bias and can complement existing meta-analyses and qualitative (narrative) structured reviews as an objective approach. Three bibliometric techniques-document co-citation analysis, co-word (co-occurrence and content) analysis, and bibliographic coupling-were applied to explore the past, present, and future of mindfulness research. The co-citation analysis showed that measurement, mechanisms, mindfulness-based interventions, and examinations of the efficacy of mindfulness interventions are among the key theoretical knowledge bases from which the field of mindfulness is derived. The content analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation for physical and mental health conditions. The bibliographic coupling revealed novel directions in cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion regulation, the application of mindfulness practice to children and adolescents, mindfulness at work, and the role of mindfulness in positive psychology. The large sample of articles that was analyzed allowed us to provide a broader and more objective overview than possible with other forms of literature reviews. The combination of the three bibliometric techniques granted deeper insights into the complex multidisciplinary field of mindfulness, along with specific suggestions for future research.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Calmer, Kinder, Wiser: A Novel Threefold Categorization for Mindfulness-Based Interventions Mindfulness December 26, 2023
- Half a Century of Research for Mind–Body Interventions: A Scientometric Analysis Mindfulness May 17, 2025
- Discussion on the Application of Mindfulness Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Narrative Review Psychology Research and Behavior Management August 1, 2025
- Mindfulness research in Saudi Arabia: a scoping review of mental health applications in a non-WEIRD context Middle East Current Psychiatry April 22, 2026
- The role and structural analysis of mindfulness-related publications in exercise and sport psychology research from a bibliometric perspective International Journal Of Eurasia Social Sciences December 1, 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 56
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
and 51 more in the library