The relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience: A meta-analysis.
Juan Zhang, Yidi Mao, Yi-Hui Wang, Yi-Han Zhang
Personality and mental health March 23, 2023 DOI: 10.1002/pmh.1581 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Measures | Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Across 197 effect sizes from 103 studies, trait mindfulness was positively associated with resilience (r = 0.385, p < 0.0001). The authors conclude that people with higher trait mindfulness are more likely to have higher resilience, and that the mindfulness facet, mindfulness measure, resilience aspect, resilience measure, and age significantly moderated the relationship. |
Abstract
Resilience is a positive psychological resource that promotes health. Trait mindfulness was found to be related to resilience. However, previous studies on this relationship have shown contradictory results. The current meta-analysis explored the relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience based on a three-level random-effects meta-analysis model. A significant and positive relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience (r = 0.385; p < 0.0001) was revealed by analyzing 197 effect sizes from 103 studies. Furthermore, the subsequent moderator analysis found that the facet of mindfulness (e.g., awareness, nonjudging) (F(6, 190) = 6.181; p < 0.001), measurement of mindfulness (e.g., the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) (F(7, 191) = 4.758; p < 0.001), aspect of resilience (e.g., family resilience) (F(5, 191) = 3.455; p < 0.05), measurement of resilience (e.g., the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) (F(11, 185) = 2.256; p < 0.05), and age (F(1, 150) = 4.588; p < 0.05) acted as significant moderators. Overall, this study confirmed the positive relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience, suggesting that people with higher levels of trait mindfulness were more likely to have higher levels of resilience. The current findings provided insightful information for interventions targeted at improving resilience.
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 10
- Feasibility and effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for improving resilience, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and posttraumatic growth among military medical college students. Acta Psychologica November 1, 2024
- Mindfulness influence on psychological wellbeing: in search of cultural adaptations. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Social-Emotional Growth (MSEG) Program in Enhancing Mental Health of Elementary School Students in Korea. Behavioral Sciences March 5, 2025
- Mindfulness, psychological resilience, and well-being as predictors of professional identity among early childhood teachers. Acta Psychologica April 1, 2026
- Rumination and alexithymia serially mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms in Chinese university students. Scientific Reports July 16, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 10
- 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
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Psychological mechanisms driving stress resilience in mindfulness training: A randomized controlled trial. Health Psychology May 23, 2019
and 5 more in the library