Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Jan 1;14(1):10-18.
doi: 10.1177/1533210108329862.

Mindfulness Research Update: 2008

Jeffrey M Greeson  1
Affiliations

Mindfulness Research Update: 2008

Jeffrey M Greeson. Complement Health Pract Rev. .

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To briefly review the effects of mindfulness on the mind, the brain, the body, and behavior. METHODS: Selective review of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases (2003-2008) using the terms "mindfulness", "meditation", "mental health", "physical health", "quality of life", and "stress reduction." A total of 52 exemplars of empirical and theoretical work were selected for review. RESULTS: Both basic and clinical research indicate that cultivating a more mindful way of being is associated with less emotional distress, more positive states of mind, and better quality of life. In addition, mindfulness practice can influence the brain, the autonomic nervous system, stress hormones, the immune system, and health behaviors, including eating, sleeping and substance use, in salutary ways. CONCLUSION: The application of cutting-edge technology toward understanding mindfulness - an "inner technology" - is elucidating new ways in which attention, awareness, acceptance, and compassion may promote optimal health - in mind, body, relationships, and spirit.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Analayo. Satipatthana: The direct path to realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications; 2003.
    1. Baer RA, Smith GT, Lykins E, Button D, Krietemeyer J, Sauer S, Walsh E, Duggan D, Williams JM. Construct validity of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment. 2008;15:329–342. - PubMed
    1. Baer RA. Clinician’s guide to evidence base and applications. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2006. Mindfulness-based treatment approaches.
    1. Baer RA, Smith GT, Hopkins J, Krietemeyer J, Toney L. Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment. 2006;13:27–45. - PubMed
    1. Baer RA. Mindfulness training as clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2003;10:125–143.