The impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy on individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers: A systematic review.

Summary

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) shows promise in easing the significant anxiety and depression often experienced by adults with Autism spectrum disorder. A review of 13 clinical studies found MBSR may improve emotional symptoms for adults with ASD (8 studies) and reduce psychological stress for their caregivers (4 studies). While preliminary, these insights suggest MBSR offers valuable support, addressing the unique challenges of stress and emotional distress within the autism community. Current evidence, however, is limited by small sample sizes.

Abstract

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers often face challenges such as emotional distress and stress management, which severely impact their quality of life. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) holds potential value in emotional regulation; however, there is a lack of systematic evaluation targeting the ASD population, particularly caregivers. This systematic review aims to clarify the clinical effects of MBSR interventions on individuals with ASD and their caregivers, providing a reference for the clinical implementation of targeted interventions. We systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, and CINAHL databases using predefined search terms and combinations, with supplementary handsearching for relevant literature. The search timeframe covered the period from the establishment of each database to October 1, 2025. This systematic review protocol has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD420251159313. A total of 13 clinical studies were included. The results indicate that MBSR demonstrates certain intervention potential for adults with ASD and their caregivers. Specifically, among adults with ASD (N = 8), MBSR may help improve emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. For ASD caregivers (N = 4), MBSR has shown preliminary effects in relieving psychological stress and improving emotional states, suggesting that it may provide potential psychological support for this population. It should be noted that only one study in the current evidence focuses on children with ASD, and the adolescent population remains uncovered. Preliminary research suggests that MBSR may hold potential value in improving anxiety and depression symptoms among adults with ASD, as well as alleviating caregiving stress and emotional distress among ASD caregivers. However, due to limitations such as the small number of included studies, limited sample sizes, and high heterogeneity, the current evidence remains insufficient in strength, and conclusions should be interpreted with caution. Future research should focus on conducting larger-scale, high-quality studies to enhance the reliability of findings.

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