Mindfulness-informed (ACT) and Mindfulness-based Programs (MBSR/MBCT) applied for college students to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety

This meta-analysis examines the effects of mindfulness-informed and mindfulness-based interventions including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students. Three electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central) were utilized and systematically searched. Effect estimates were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and data were pooled using random-effects models. Twenty-two comparisons derived from 19 studies (2716 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. For studies employing passive control conditions (n = 17), post-intervention effect sizes were significant for depressive (0.47 [95% CI: 0. 32–0.63]) and anxiety symptoms (0.58 [95% CI: 0.34–0.82]). Effect sizes were significant at post-intervention among MBCT (0.76 [95% CI: 0.48–1.03] for depressive symptoms and 1.37 [95% CI: 0.70–2.04] for anxiety symptoms) and MBSR (0.58 [95% CI: 0.31–0.86] for depressive symptoms and 0.49 [95% CI: 0.24–0.73] for anxiety symptoms). The effect size of ACT for depressive symptoms at post-intervention was significant (0.28 [95% CI: 0.09–0.48]), but the post-intervention effect size of ACT for anxiety symptoms was not significant (0.23 [95% CI: −0.01 −0.47]). Our analyses showed no superiority for ACT, MBSR, and MBCT to active control conditions, either when they were combined or considered separately. This meta-analysis provides empirical evidence in support of ACT, MBSR, and MBCT for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students.