The Quest for Mindful Sleep: A Critical Synthesis of the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Insomnia.
Sheila N. Garland, Eric S Zhou, Brian D Gonzalez, Nicole Rodriguez
Current Sleep Medicine Reports September 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s40675-016-0050-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Insomnia Intervention Sleep disturbance |
| Key findings | The paper argues that mindfulness-based interventions are receiving growing clinical and research attention for insomnia and sleep disturbance, and it reviews 2012-2016 literature on their sleep effects, distinguishing studies where insomnia or sleep disturbance was a primary versus secondary outcome. It also proposes theoretical mechanisms by which mindfulness meditation may affect sleep and offers recommendations for future research. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) for insomnia and sleep disturbances are receiving increasing clinical and research attention. This paper provides a critical appraisal of this growing area investigating the application of MBIs for people with insomnia and sleep disturbance. First, we discuss the theoretical justification for how mindfulness meditation practice may affect sleep processes. Second, we provide a focused review of literature published between January 1, 2012 and April 1, 2016 examining the impact of MBIs on sleep, broken down by whether insomnia or sleep disturbance was a primary or secondary outcome. Recommendations for future research are discussed.
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 10
- A mindfulness meditation mobile app improves depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance: Analysis from a randomized controlled trial General Hospital Psychiatry September 11, 2021
- Heart rate variability during mindful breathing meditation Frontiers in Physiology January 23, 2023
- A Meta-Regression of psychosocial factors associated with sleep outcomes in mindfulness-based intervention trials. Behavioral Sleep Medicine 2025
- User Experiences and Effects of Expert-Led YouTube Mind-Body Interventions on Insomniacs: A Survey Study. Journal of Korean medical science June 2, 2025
- Feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of a mobile mindfulness meditation intervention to improve sleep quality among a racially/ethnically diverse population. Sleep Health April 2023
and 5 more in the library
Cites 12
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
- Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial Arthritis Care & Research January 31, 2007
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia Sleep August 29, 2014
- Physical Activity, Mindfulness Meditation, or Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June 25, 2015
and 7 more in the library