Mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on emotional clarity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
David Cooper, Keong Yap, Luisa Batalha
Journal of Affective Disorders August 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.018 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Alexithymia Emotional clarity Interventions Meta-analysis |
| Key findings | Pooled across 17 studies, mindfulness-based interventions were associated with small-to-moderate improvements in self-reported emotional clarity from pre- to post-intervention (Hedges' g = 0.42) and small-to-large between-group differences (g = 0.52). The authors characterize this as preliminary evidence and caution that heterogeneity in study design and the presence of non-mindfulness components limit interpretation. |
Abstract
An inability to identify or describe internal emotional experience has been linked to a range of affective disorders. Despite burgeoning research on mindfulness-based interventions and their possible effects on emotion regulation, the effects of such interventions on emotional clarity is unclear. This review examines the evidence for the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on self-reported emotional clarity. Published studies indexed by PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus, as available in April 2017, were systematically reviewed. Interventions that included mindfulness practice or philosophy, and reported a suitable measure of emotional clarity at pre- and post-intervention were selected. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Subgroup comparisons were also conducted to test for differences between clinical and non-clinical samples, between specific and approximate measures of emotional clarity, and between controlled and uncontrolled trials. Seventeen studies met the criteria for inclusion. The overall estimated effect size for pre- to post-intervention was small to moderate, Hedges' g = 0.42, 95% CI [0.25, 0.59] and for between groups results was small to large, Hedges' g = 0.52, 95% CI [0.15, 0.90]. Studies varied substantially in design quality and study characteristics. Furthermore, while interventions in the reviewed studies all had mindfulness components, many had other components in addition to mindfulness. Consequently, this review is limited by the heterogeneity of studies and results should be interpreted with caution. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may increase emotional clarity. However, more homogenous and targeted experiments are required to confirm these initial findings.
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 12
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- The role of emotion regulation through mindfulness in oncological patients: A pilot study. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 2025
- Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions for internet use disorders in adolescents and young adults: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis Journal of Behavioral Addictions September 18, 2026
- The predictive values of state and trait mindfulness on emotion understanding in primary school children Frontiers in Psychology July 10, 2026
- Brief Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality Mindfulness Breathing Exercise for Emotional Well-Being and Cognitive Functions in University Students: Within-Subjects Experimental Design Study JMIR XR and spatial computing March 25, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 15
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