How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account

Creswell, J. David; Lindsay, Emily K.

doi:10.1177/0963721414547415

Cited by 543Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsHealth, psychology, and well-beingReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account

Creswell, J. David, Lindsay, Emily K.·2014·Current Directions in Psychological Science

DOI 10.1177/0963721414547415

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Abstract

Initial well-controlled studies have suggested that mindfulness training interventions can improve a broad range of mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., HIV pathogenesis, depression relapse, inflammation, drug abuse), yet the underlying pathways linking mindfulness and health are poorly understood. In this article, we offer a mindfulness stress buffering account to explain these health outcomes, which posits that mindfulness-based health effects are mostly likely to be observed in high-stress populations for which stress is known to affect the onset or exacerbation of disease pathogenic processes. We then offer an evidence-based biological model of mindfulness, stress buffering, and health.

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Mindfulness-based practices promote acceptance of ill-health through non-judgemental observation of thoughts and feelings.
“Mindfulness-based practices employ strategies that promote acceptance of (ill-)health through non-judgemental observation of thoughts and feelings [1].”
From Grieving a disrupted biography: an interpretative phenomenological analysis exploring barriers to the use of mindfulness after neurological injury or impairment (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
Mindfulness has demonstrated strong utility for enhancing self-management and health outcomes in chronic illness.
“Mindfulness has demonstrated strong utility for enhancing self-management and health outcomes in chronic illness.”
From Grieving a disrupted biography: an interpretative phenomenological analysis exploring barriers to the use of mindfulness after neurological injury or impairment (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
Mindfulness is widely employed as an adjunctive strategy for health self-management in people with chronic health conditions.
“Mindfulness is widely employed as an adjunctive strategy for health self-management in people with chronic health conditions [1].”
From Grieving a disrupted biography: an interpretative phenomenological analysis exploring barriers to the use of mindfulness after neurological injury or impairment (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been shown to ameliorate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation during global crises.
“Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been shown to ameliorate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation during global crises [182].”
From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [182]
In older populations, MBIs including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and ACT have shown promise in helping individuals cope with stress and uncertainty.
“In these populations, MBIs, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and ACT, have shown promise in helping individuals cope with stress and uncertainty [182,194,195].”
From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [182]

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“Being mindful enables people to be more aware and accepting of their experiences of the present moment, leading to reductions in stress levels and other negative outcomes (Colgan et al., 2019; Creswell & Lindsay, 2014).”
Background
Specific reduction in the cortisol awakening response after socio-affective mental training
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“Letting Go” (Implicitly): Priming Mindfulness Mitigates the Effects of a Moderate Social Stressor
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A 16-week aerobic exercise and mindfulness-based intervention on chronic psychosocial stress: a pilot and feasibility study
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Dispositional Mindfulness May Have Protected Athletes from Psychological Distress During COVID-19 in Australia
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The Meaning and Doing of Mindfulness: The Role of Values in the Link Between Mindfulness and Well-Being
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A Component of Mindfulness: Attention
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Mindfulness and Well-Being
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Authors: Creswell, J. D., & Lindsay, E. K.
Affiliations: Carnegie Mellon University (US)
ORCID: Creswell, J. David
Lindsay, Emily K.
Venue: Current Directions in Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2014-12
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Pages: 401-407
ISSN: 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
1467-8721
DOI: 10.1177/0963721414547415
OpenAlex: W2120274371
Cited by: 543
References: 48
Citations by year: 2026: 43 · 2025: 69 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 8 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 22.81
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords: mindfulness training, stress buffering, stress, health outcomes, pathogenesis, inflammation, depression relapse, HIV, drug abuse

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How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account

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