Cited by 68Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for ruminative thinking: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Mao, Lingyun, Li, Pan, Wu, Yunhong, Luo, Lan, Hu, Maorong·2023·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for ruminative thinking.Methods Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, PubMed and Science Direct databases were searched to include randomized controlled trials of mindfulness-based interventions for rumination that met the criteria. The Rumination scale was used as the primary outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicator included the Mindfulness scale. An evaluation of bias risk was conducted to identify possible sources of bias based on methodological and clinical factors. Stata 16.0 software was used to perform meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, meta-regression analysis and publication bias detection of the extracted data.Results A total of 61 studies with 4229 patients were included. Meta-analysis results revealed a significant intervention effect on ruminative thinking (SMD = -0.534, 95 % CI = [-0.675, -0.394], z = -7.449, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between mindfulness-based interventions and CBT (SMD = 0.009, 95%CI = [-0.239, 0.258], z = 0.073, P = 0.941). Meta-analysis showed that mindfulness-based interventions significantly enhanced the level of mindfulness (SMD = 0.495, 95 % CI = [0.343, 0.647], z = 6.388, P < 0.001), while it was not significant compared to CBT (SMD = 0.158, 95%CI = [-0.087, 0.403], z = 1.266, P = 0.205). The two subgroups with >65 % (SMD = -0.534, 95%CI = [-0.681, -0.386], z = -7.081, P < 0.001) and 80 % (SMD = -0.462, 95%CI = [-0.590, -0.334], z = -7.071, P < 0.001) of females showed significant improvement in ruminative thinking. There were significant intervention effects for depression, students, cancer, healthy adults, and clinical patients. Significant intervention effects were demonstrated for various participant ages and intervention periods.Conclusion This study confirmed the feasibility of mindfulness-based interventions in improving ruminative thinking and enhancing the level of mindfulness. However, the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions was not significant compared to CBT. The two subgroups with a higher proportion of females showed a more significant improvement in ruminative thinking, whereas there were no significant differences in participant characteristics, age, and the duration of intervention.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.022

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Authors
Mao, L., Li, P., Wu, Y., Luo, L., & Hu, M.
Affiliations
  • Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
  • First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (CN)
Corresponding author
Hu, Maorong
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-01
Volume
321
Pages
83-95
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4307289092
Cited by
68
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 4
FWCI
2.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (81960261)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
mindfulness-based interventions, rumination, ruminative thinking, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, depression, anxiety, sex differences, treatment effectiveness, risk of bias assessment, publication bias, subgroup analysis, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis, geriatric depression, anxiety in older adults, child and adolescent depression, childhood anxiety
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Neoplasms, Students, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Mindfulness

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