Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Through Meditation: A Review of Psychological and Cognitive Outcomes
Ashwini Patil, Saloni Maniyar, Ruchita Mule, Sanika Surade, Ashwini Korade, Smruti Kulkarni
Multidisciplinary Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.65521/mjret.v13i2.3242 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults, including students, working adults, and patients with medical diseases, across 25 reviewed studies |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Typically 8 weeks |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), cortisol level |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that mindfulness-based interventions, most often 8-week MBSR programs, help maintain good mental health and emotional balance, based on 25 articles from 2000 to 2023, most using randomized controlled trials with wait-list or other comparison groups. They argue that mindfulness deserves greater emphasis for public mental well-being. |
Abstract
This review discusses the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in reducing stress, anxiety, and other mental disorders among adults. 25 peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2023 were studied by researchers. The studies involved a combination of patients such as students, working adults, and patients with some medical diseases. The most frequently used program was Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), typically 8 weeks. Wait-list controls or additional comparison groups were applied to cross-check the results. The effects were assessed using various instruments, such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and physical parameters like cortisol level. The majority of the studies applied a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design, whereas a few of them applied quasi-experimental or pilot designs. The findings decidedly prove that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) help in maintaining good mental health and achieving emotional balance. The current review places an emphasis on the growing need for mindfulness for public mental well-being.
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 |