The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety and depression among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

With growing interest in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as tools for improving psychological well-being, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBIs in reducing anxiety and depression among students. A systematic literature search was conducted across major electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, ProQuest, and APA PsycNet following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published between 2010 and 2024 were screened for eligibility. A Random-Effects Model (REM) was used to compute pooled effect sizes. A total of 84 studies targeting general students met the inclusion criteria. MBIs demonstrated medium effects in reducing anxiety (g = - 0.58, 95% CI [−0.72, −0.45], p = 0.00, k = 75) and depression (g = -0.51, 95% CI [−0.63, −0.39], p = 0.00, k = 70). Subgroup analyses indicated that 8-week interventions were significantly more effective in reducing depression (8- weeks p = 0.00; g = −0.73), compared with shorter interventions (1–7 weeks; g = - 0.43) and longer interventions (9 weeks and above; g = - 0.15). Moreover, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was particularly effective in reducing anxiety (p = 0.00; g = - 2.21), compared with MBSR (g = - 0.88) and other MBIs (g = - 0.40). Mindfulness-based interventions appear to provide meaningful reductions in anxiety and depression among students. What is already known about this topic: (1) Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are widely used to enhance psychological well-being and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression across clinical and non-clinical populations. (2) Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among students, driven by academic demands, social pressures, and increasing digital stressors. (3) Previous meta-analyses suggest that MBIs are beneficial for students, but many reviews have been limited by narrow inclusion criteria, restricted regions, or short time frames. What this topic adds: (1) This meta-analysis provides updated and robust evidence that MBIs produce meaningful, medium-sized reductions in both anxiety and depression among general student populations. (2) An 8-week intervention format appears optimal for reducing depressive symptoms, offering practitioners guidance on effective program duration in educational settings. (3) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) shows particularly strong effects in alleviating student anxiety, highlighting its value for school and university mental health services.