MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH: A CONTEMPORARY ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

The level of mental health issues in the world has never been this high, and it needs to be addressed through evidence-based interventions to promote the mental health of people; mindfulness and meditation practices are the potential ways of treating many mental health disorders. The current research evidence (2020-2025) on mindfulness and meditation practices in psychological health summarized in this review explores the mechanisms of action, clinical uses, and therapeutic outcomes through thorough discussion of peer-reviewed articles on neurobiology of mindfulness and meditation and use of mindfulness and meditation in various contexts. Neuroimaging measures indicate that learning mindfulness practices have structural and functional brain changes, especially of areas related to emotional management and attention, and meta-analyses indicate that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has significant therapeutic effects on both anxiety disorders (effect sizes d = 0.63-0.89) and mindfulness meditation (43% depressed relapse rates). Mindfulness interventions have been shown to be effective in anxiety, depression, PTSD and stress-related disorders, and physiological effects include lowered cortisol levels, better heart rate variability, and better immune functions, whereas mindfulness programs in the workplace and in education have led to better productivity, lower burnout, and higher academic results. Virtual reality platforms, culturally adapted programs and digital interventions have potential to increase accessibility to diverse populations, and mindfulness and meditation interventions provide effective and accessible ways to promote and treat mental health and can provide a paradigm shift of holistic, person-centered psychological care that requires further research on personalized interventions, long-term sustainability, and cultural adaptation to maximize their therapeutic potential.