University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Harvard University, Boston, USA.
Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020 Jul;12(2):384-410. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12188. Epub 2019 Nov 19.
University students are expressing an increased need for mental health support. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are being integrated into university stress-reduction programmes globally. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing MBI effects on university students' mental and physical health.
We searched nine databases, including grey literature and trial registries. Two independent reviewers extracted data following a prospective public protocol.
Fifty-one RCTs were included. In comparison with passive controls, and when measured shortly after intervention completion, MBIs improve distress, anxiety, depression, well-being, rumination, and mindfulness with small to moderate effect sizes, with no benefit found for blood pressure, sleep, life satisfaction, resilience, worry, and thought suppression. Evidence for self-compassion is inconclusive. Effects last beyond three months for distress and mindfulness, with no data on other outcomes. Compared with active control groups, MBIs significantly improve distress and state anxiety, but not mindfulness, depression, well-being, affect, trait anxiety, or emotion regulation. Results were robust to adjustment for multiple testing, but RCTs' risk of bias is generally high. Moderator analyses did not find differential intervention effects according to intervention duration, delivery mode, or sub-populations.
MBIs may be helpful to students but higher-quality research is needed.
大学生表达了对心理健康支持的需求增加。正念干预（MBI）正被纳入全球大学减压计划中。我们对评估 MBI 对大学生身心健康影响的随机对照试验（RCT）进行了全面的系统评价和荟萃分析。
我们搜索了九个数据库，包括灰色文献和试验登记处。两名独立的审查员按照前瞻性公开方案提取数据。
共纳入 51 项 RCT。与被动对照相比，以及在干预完成后不久测量时，MBI 可改善困扰、焦虑、抑郁、幸福感、反刍和正念，其效应量为小至中等，对血压、睡眠、生活满意度、韧性、担忧和思维抑制没有益处。自我同情的证据尚无定论。MBI 在困扰和正念方面的效果持续超过三个月，但其他结果没有数据。与积极对照组相比，MBI 可显著改善困扰和状态焦虑，但不能改善正念、抑郁、幸福感、情绪、特质焦虑或情绪调节。对多重检验进行调整后，结果仍然稳健，但 RCT 的偏倚风险普遍较高。 调节分析没有发现根据干预持续时间、交付模式或亚人群的干预效果差异。
MBI 可能对学生有帮助，但需要更高质量的研究。
