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Systematic review and meta-analysis reveals reduced cortisol following mindfulness-based stress reduction, indicating meaningful physiological benefits for individuals facing chronic stress.
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: Chronic stress is a growing public health concern, with cortisol widely recognized as its primary physiological biomarker. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a standardized multiweek program, has shown promise in improving psychological outcomes, yet its specific effects on cortisol levels have not been meta-analyzed. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eligible MBSR trials, those that (a) reported pre- and postintervention cortisol levels and (b) controlled for timing of cortisol collection. Significant heterogeneity remained unexplained. CONCLUSIONS: MBSR interventions reduce cortisol, although results vary across studies. As MBSR provides a physiological benefit, it deserves greater implementation in stress reduction initiatives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
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Johnson et al. (2026) studied this question.
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