Do workplace-based mindfulness meditation programs improve physiological indices of stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize evidence on the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on physiological stress indicators in employee samples.
Results Summary
MBIs reduced cortisol production and improved autonomic balance (heart rate variability coherence) but did not affect cortisol awakening response or blood pressure. They also reduced sympathetic nervous system reactivity and improved some immune function markers, though these were only assessed in single studies.
Population
Employees experiencing workplace stress or targeted for work engagement.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) | increase | job satisfaction, wellbeing, health | employees | - | have been related with improved | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) | decrease | workplace stress | employees | - | have been related with reduced | #2 |
MBIs | decrease | cortisol production | employee sample | - | were found to be effective in reducing | #3 |
MBIs | decrease | high and low diurnal cortisol slopes | employee sample | - | lowered | #4 |
MBIs | no change | cortisol awakening response | employee sample | - | no changes were found for | #5 |
MBIs | no change | concentrations for single a.m. and p.m. time-points | employee sample | - | no changes were found for | #6 |
MBIs | increase | autonomic balance | employee sample | - | improved | #7 |
MBIs | increase | heart rate variability coherence measures | employee sample | - | improved | #8 |
MBIs | no change | blood pressure | employee sample | - | not | #9 |
MBIs | decrease | sympathetic nervous system reactivity as measured by salivary alpha amylase | employee sample | - | reduced | #10 |
MBIs | increase | aspects of immune function | employee sample | - | improved | #11 |
MBIs | increase | antibody response to a viral vaccine | employee sample | - | increased | #12 |
MBIs | decrease | C-reactive protein concentrations | employee sample | - | reduced | #13 |
OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been related with improved job satisfaction, wellbeing, health, and reduced workplace stress with employees. However, until now, synthesis of the evidence of the effect of MBIs on physiological indices associated with stress and ill-health has been lacking. Therefore the current systematic review aimed to synthesise the literature from employee samples to provide guidance for future investigations in terms of which physiological indicators and biological systems may be most impacted by MBIs. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched. Studies that conducted a mindfulness-based program with an employee sample, which targeted workplace stress or work engagement, and measured a physiological outcome were selected for inclusion. Studies using either a between-group or within-group design were included. Nine papers were found to meet the inclusion criteria for our systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. RESULTS: MBIs were found to be effective in reducing cortisol production, as indicated by lowered high and low diurnal cortisol slopes. However, no changes were found for cortisol awakening response or concentrations for single a.m. and p.m. time-points. MBIs also improved autonomic balance, assessed by heart rate variability coherence measures, but not blood pressure. Sympathetic nervous system reactivity as measured by salivary alpha amylase was also reduced following MBI. While aspects of immune function were also improved following MBIs, specifically, increased antibody response to a viral vaccine and reduced C-reactive protein concentrations, each of these outcomes were only assessed in a single study. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the findings suggest that MBIs are a promising avenue for intervention for improving physiological indices of stress. Our findings suggest that changes in daytime cortisol secretion and HRV coherence may be particularly influenced by MBIs. Future studies should aim to assess multiple physiological indices to confirm the current findings and further improve current understanding of which biological systems (and indices within these systems) show responses indicative of reduced stress due to MBI.