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
Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Jul;12(2):384-410.
doi: 10.1111/aphw.12188. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Anna F Dawson  1 , William W Brown  2 , Joanna Anderson  1 , Bella Datta  3 , James N Donald  4 , Karen Hong  5 , Sophie Allan  6 , Tom B Mole  7 , Peter B Jones  1 , Julieta Galante  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Anna F Dawson et al. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Background: University students are expressing an increased need for mental health support. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are being integrated into university stress-reduction programmes globally. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing MBI effects on university students' mental and physical health.

Methods: We searched nine databases, including grey literature and trial registries. Two independent reviewers extracted data following a prospective public protocol.

Results: Fifty-one RCTs were included. In comparison with passive controls, and when measured shortly after intervention completion, MBIs improve distress, anxiety, depression, well-being, rumination, and mindfulness with small to moderate effect sizes, with no benefit found for blood pressure, sleep, life satisfaction, resilience, worry, and thought suppression. Evidence for self-compassion is inconclusive. Effects last beyond three months for distress and mindfulness, with no data on other outcomes. Compared with active control groups, MBIs significantly improve distress and state anxiety, but not mindfulness, depression, well-being, affect, trait anxiety, or emotion regulation. Results were robust to adjustment for multiple testing, but RCTs' risk of bias is generally high. Moderator analyses did not find differential intervention effects according to intervention duration, delivery mode, or sub-populations.

Conclusions: MBIs may be helpful to students but higher-quality research is needed.

Keywords: meta-analysis; mindfulness; students; systematic review; university.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Aeamla-Or, N. (2015). The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on stress, depression, self-esteem and mindfulness in Thai nursing students: A randomised controlled trial. (Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)), The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
    1. Aickin, M., & Gensler, H. (1996). Adjusting for multiple testing when reporting research results: The Bonferroni vs Holm methods. American Journal of Public Health, 86(5), 726-728.
    1. Alsubaie, M., Abbott, R., Dunn, B., Dickens, C., Keil, T.F., Henley, W., & Kuyken, W. (2017). Mechanisms of action in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in people with physical and/or psychological conditions: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 55, 74-91.
    1. Borenstein, M., Hedges, L.V., Higgins, J.P.T., & Rothstein, H.R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
    1. Borenstein, M., Higgins, J.P., Hedges, L.V., & Rothstein, H.R. (2017). Basics of meta-analysis: I2 is not an absolute measure of heterogeneity. Research Synthesis Methods, 8(1), 5-18.

MeSH terms