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Minding the Body: A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Training on Self-reported Interoception.

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Title: Minding the Body: A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Training on Self-reported Interoception.
Authors: Treves IN; Columbia University Irving Medical Center., Chen YY; Virginia Tech., Wilson CL; University of Colorado Denver., Verdonk C; UMR VIFASOM, Université de Paris., Qina'au J; University of California, San Francisco., Pustejovsky JE; University of Wisconsin-Madison., Goldberg SB; University of Wisconsin-Madison., Mehling W; University of California, San Francisco., Schuman-Olivier Z; Cambridge Health Alliance., Khalsa SS; University of California at Los Angeles.
Source: Research square [Res Sq] 2025 Jun 04. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jun 04.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Preprint
Language: English
Journal Info: Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101768035 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2693-5015 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 26935015 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Res Sq Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE
Abstract: Mindfulness meditation training may cultivate interoceptive awareness and provide therapeutic benefit when implemented within mental and physical health interventions. This pre-registered meta-analysis evaluated the impact of mindfulness interventions on self-reported interoception measures and associated relationships with psychological outcomes. Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials with 2,191 participants (77.8% female, mean age 32.8 years) were meta-analyzed using correlated and hierarchical effects models. Interventions included mindfulness-based programs (k = 15), body-based approaches (incorporating elements like massage, k = 8), and other variations (k = 6). Five SIMs were tested; the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness was the most common (22 studies). Results showed a small-to-medium positive effect on interoception measures across all studies (g = 0.31, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.21, 0.42]) with low-to-moderate heterogeneity (τ = 0.16). Mindfulness-based programs demonstrated the largest effects (g = 0.41). No evidence of publication bias was found. No other moderators, such as practice dosage or clinical sample, were significant. Improvements in self-reported interoception were similar in size to improvements in self-reported mindfulness and were related to improvements in psychological distress. These meta-analytic findings provide evidence that mindfulness-based interventions lead to adaptive changes in the subjective experience of interoception, perhaps contributing to improved mental wellbeing.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Comments: Update in: Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 6;15(1):38889. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-22661-4.. (PMID: 41198766)
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Grant Information: K23 AT010879 United States AT NCCIH NIH HHS; R24 AT012845 United States AT NCCIH NIH HHS
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: MAIA; body awareness; interoception; meditation; meta-analysis; mindfulness
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250612 Date Completed: 20251112 Latest Revision: 20260726
Update Code: 20260726
PubMed Central ID: PMC12155205
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6792067/v1
PMID: 40502790
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:2693-5015
DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-6792067/v1