Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions with Respect to Psychological and Biomedical Outcomes in Young People with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.

Mindfulness-based psychological interventions may improve psychological well-being (anxiety, diabetes distress, perceived stress, depression, self-efficacy, quality of life) and biomedical outcomes (glycaemic control, blood glucose levels, diastolic blood pressure) in young people with type 1 diabetes. A systematic review of nine studies, most of moderate or optimal methodological quality, found small sample sizes and only two with short-term follow-up. The evidence is promising but limited, and further research with better methodology and design is needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease especially affecting young people. Mindfulness-based psychological interventions might reduce emotional symptoms post-diagnosis, but the evidence is limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions on psychological well-being and biomedical variables in young people with type 1 diabetes. A systematic review of trials was conducted that involved a bibliographic search in electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, SciELO, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library) considering studies published between 2013 and 2024. A total of 434 records were identified, of which 252 underwent selection according to title and abstract, leaving 32 that were evaluated for eligibility and 7 included in this review. From Google Scholar, six more studies were identified and evaluated, and two were selected. Finally, nine studies were subjected to full reading and a detailed analysis of the inclusion criteria. A total of 66.6% of the studies were evaluated as having a methodological quality of moderate or optimal, but the samples analysed tended to be small, and only two articles carried out short-term follow-up evaluations. Mindfulness-based interventions, upon reviewing the preliminary results, may be posited as a viable strategy to enhance psychological (anxiety, diabetes distress, perceived stress, depression, self-efficacy, psychological well-being, and quality of life) and biomedical outcomes (glycaemic control, blood glucose levels, and diastolic blood pressure) for type 1 diabetes in young people. Although promising, further research is required to improve the quality, methodology, and design of studies.