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Do group-based mindfulness meditation programs enhance executive functioning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence.

Consciousness and cognition
October 1, 2021
Geneva Millett et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effect of group-based mindfulness programs on executive functioning in adults aged 18+.

Results Summary

The meta-analysis found a small but significant overall effect of group-mindfulness training on executive functioning, with significant effects for inhibition, working memory, and verbal fluency, but not for attention shifting. Results were inconsistent across subgroups.

Population

Adults aged 18+ (both clinical and non-clinical samples).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
group-based mindfulness programs
increase
overall executive functioning
persons 18+ years of age
95% CI = 0.256, 0.725
suggested a small but significant synthesized effect
#1
group-mindfulness training
increase
inhibition
persons 18+ years of age
95% CI = 0.055, 0.387
suggested a small, statistically significant effect
#2
group-mindfulness training
increase
working memory
persons 18+ years of age
95% CI = 0.010, 0.437
suggested a small, statistically significant effect
#3
group-mindfulness training
increase
verbal fluency
persons 18+ years of age
95% CI = 0.071, 1.931
suggested a small, statistically significant effect
#4
group-mindfulness training
no change
attention shifting
persons 18+ years of age
no significant change
No significant pooled effects were found
#5
group-based mindfulness training
no change
executive functioning
persons 18+ years of age
-
the effect ... is not robust
#6
Abstract

Research examining the effects of group-based mindfulness interventions on executive functioning have yielded inconsistent findings, with some reports of enhanced performance and other reports of null findings. Inconsistencies in the literature may be due to methodological differences across studies, including the type of control group employed and sample characteristics (e.g., clinical vs. non-clinical samples). The current systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effect of group-based mindfulness programs on executive functioning in persons 18+ years of age. Following the standards for systematic review, a total of 29 studies were included in the meta-analysis, of which 21 comparisons contributed to the analysis of inhibition; nine to working memory; nine to attention shifting; and four to the analysis of verbal fluency. After removing outliers, random effects models suggested a small but significant synthesized effect of group-mindfulness training on overall executive functioning (95% CI = 0.256, 0.725). Examination of executive subdomains after removing outliers suggested a small, statistically significant effect for inhibition (95% CI = 0.055, 0.387), working memory (95% CI = 0.010, 0.437), and verbal fluency (95% CI = 0.071, 1.931). No significant pooled effects were found for attention shifting. A priori subgroup analysis by randomization, type of control group, and sample cohort revealed inconsistent results. Overall, the current review suggests that the effect of group-based mindfulness training on executive functioning is not robust.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Executive FunctionHumansInhibition, PsychologicalMeditationMemory, Short-TermMindfulness
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year1.5
Relative Citation Ratio0.72
NIH Percentile38.3%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.38
Normalized Score0.62
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