Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Bereavement: A Systematized Narrative Review

Summary

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), particularly Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, improve grief-related distress, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being in bereaved individuals. These interventions reduce rumination and experiential avoidance while increasing self-compassion and emotion regulation. Evidence from 17 studies, however, remains preliminary due to small sample sizes, varied outcome measures, and limited long-term follow-up. MBIs appear promising as adjunctive support in bereavement care, targeting acceptance, decentering, and self-compassion. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy and clarify mechanisms.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promising effects across diverse areas of psychiatry, yet their specific role in bereavement remains insufficiently synthesized. Bereavement is a universal but heterogeneous process, with a minority of individuals at risk of developing prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Understanding the potential benefits of MBIs in this context is crucial for informing clinical practice. METHODS: Following the methodological framework of systematized narrative reviews, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases. Eligible studies included empirical investigations of MBIs applied to bereavement, without restrictions on type of loss, population, or intervention format. Data were narratively synthesized and summarized in tables; no meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. The strongest evidence was found for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which demonstrated improvements in grief-related distress, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being. Across interventions, MBIs were associated with reductions in rumination and experiential avoidance, increased self-compassion, and enhanced emotion regulation. However, most studies were limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous outcome measures, and a lack of long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: MBIs show promise as adjunctive interventions in bereavement care, targeting mechanisms central to grief adaptation, including acceptance, decentering, and self-compassion. Nevertheless, the evidence remains preliminary and methodologically constrained. Future high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy, clarify mechanisms of action, and define the role of MBIs alongside established grief therapies.