Scientists from the University of Cambridge have confirmed that practicing mindfulness under the guidance of a teacher can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. The research was published in the journal Nature Mental Health.
Mindfulness is the ability to focus on experiencing the present moment without thinking about past or future events. The scientists analyzed the results of 13 previous studies. A total of 2371 adults participated in these. Half of them completed weekly mindfulness programs that lasted eight weeks. The other half did not participate in mindfulness programs.
In the mindfulness group, 13% more participants reported reduced stress and anxiety. The study did not include people with serious mental illness. The apps were equally effective for people of all ages, genders, education levels, and mental health.
The study was the largest and most reliable to confirm the effectiveness of mindfulness practices. Mindfulness practices can also be self-taught through apps, podcasts, and books. But the scientists stressed that individual work is not a substitute for face-to-face therapy and there is much less evidence of effectiveness.
“Sharing experiences with a group in a safe space and having a teacher you can trust and connect with will likely improve your mental health already – apart from any effect of mindfulness meditation practice. Actually, we’re not quite sure mindfulness meditation practice per se has any effect – mixed evidence ”the scientists added.
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