Effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for depressive symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Depression is a leading contributor to global disease burden, with onset commonly occurring in young people. Mindfulness interventions (MIs) are an increasingly popular approach for addressing depressive symptoms in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MIs in reducing depressive symptoms and to examine whether a range of variables, including MI type, potentially influence effectiveness.

Method

This systematic review searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase for controlled trials involving participants aged 14-27 years reporting depressive symptoms. Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria, of which 25 were included in a meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled Hedges' g at end of treatment, and MI type was examined as a moderator.

Results

MIs were significantly more effective than control conditions in reducing depressive symptom severity, with a small pooled effect size (g = -0.32, p < .001). MI type did not significantly moderate outcomes, suggesting no single MI was superior in effectiveness. Despite moderate heterogeneity, effects were broadly consistent across populations, delivery modes, and comparator conditions. Narrative synthesis of follow-up data suggested that benefits may be maintained over time, although findings were mixed.

Limitations

Follow-up outcomes were not meta-analysed due to inconsistent reporting, and residual heterogeneity remained.

Conclusions

AND IMPLICATIONS MIs demonstrate reliable, small effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms in young people and represent flexible, scalable interventions. Future research should examine key moderators and isolate the specific contribution of mindfulness within multi-component interventions.