The associations and effects of mindfulness on anger and aggression: A meta-analytic review.
Clinical psychology review June 1, 2025 Siobhan M O'Dean, Elizabeth Summerell, Eddie Harmon-Jones et al. 10 citations
People who are more mindful tend to report less anger and aggression, and mindfulness training can reduce these responses. Four meta-analyses of 118 studies found small-to-medium inverse correlations between dispositional mindfulness and both anger (r = -0.23) and aggression (r = -0.19). In experimental studies, mindfulness-based interventions produced medium reductions in anger (d = -0.48) and aggression (d = -0.61) compared to control groups. Effects were largest in Asia and with passive control groups, and were similar across clinical, forensic, healthy, medical, and student populations. The findings suggest mindfulness training can help regulate anger and aggression in diverse groups, though more rigorous control groups are needed.