Effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for depressive symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
J Affect DisordAug 26, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry
E Meirelles, J F Gleeson
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions (MIs) for reducing depressive symptoms in young people aged 14-27. The analysis included 25 studies and found that MIs were significantly more effective than control conditions, with a small pooled effect size of g = -0.32 (p < .001).
Key findings
- Mindfulness interventions reduced depressive symptom severity more effectively than control conditions.
- The pooled effect size for MIs was g = -0.32, indicating small effectiveness.
- MI type did not significantly moderate the effectiveness of interventions.
- Benefits of MIs may be maintained over time, though follow-up data were mixed.
Why it matters
Depression in young people is a significant public health concern. Understanding the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions can help clinicians offer evidence-based strategies to alleviate depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population.
What to keep in mind
Follow-up outcomes were not meta-analyzed due to inconsistent reporting, and residual heterogeneity remained.