Target mechanisms of mindfulness-based programmes and practices: a scoping review.
BMJ mental health August 24, 2024 Shannon Maloney, Merle Kock, Yasmijn Slaghekke et al. 16 citations
A systematic review of 27 randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness skills, decentering, and attitudes such as self-compassion are significant indirect pathways through which mindfulness-based programs improve mental health and well-being. Only four studies examined mechanisms within specific mindfulness practices. The evidence for alternative mechanisms like attention and awareness remains limited, especially regarding well-being outcomes, mental health promotion, and comparisons with active controls. The authors call for high-quality trials with powered multivariate mediation analyses to address these knowledge gaps and guide future interventions.