An Overview of the Methods Used to Measure the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Sleep-Related Outcomes.
Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil) December 1, 2023 Julia Ribeiro Da Silva Vallim, Gabriela Sant'Ana Lima, Gabriel Natan Pires et al.
Mindfulness-based interventions can reduce anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, but their effect on sleep is not well established. Sleep can be measured subjectively (questionnaires, logs) or objectively (actigraphy, polysomnography). A review of 193 articles found that most studies (78%) used only subjective sleep measures, which show higher variability and uncertainty and moderate to nonexistent agreement with objective measures. This reliance on subjective assessment may create a misperception about mindfulness effects on sleep. Future research should emphasize objective measurements while acknowledging that subjective measures remain useful for some aspects of the sleep-mindfulness relationship.