ABSTRACT

Previous meta-analytic results showed beneficial effects of meditation interventions for cortisol levels. In the present meta-analysis we tested whether effects are larger for those who might be in need of such stress reduction programs due to a risk for elevated cortisol levels as compared to no-risk samples. We included RCTs that measured change in cortisol levels. Based on 10 studies using blood samples meditation interventions had a significant, medium effect from pre-to post-test compared to the control group. Upon closer inspection, this effect was only present for at-risk samples, that is, patients with a somatic illness. In the 21 studies using saliva samples the effect was small and not significant, but there was a marginally significant effect for groups living in stressful life situations. This pattern may suggest that that meditation interventions are most beneficial for at-risk populations. These interventions might provide people with strategies of stress management that can contribute to well-being. Preliminary results suggest that benefits of meditation interventions might not fade with time.

摘要

先前的元分析结果显示冥想干预对皮质醇水平的有益影响。在本荟萃分析中，我们测试了与无风险样本相比，由于皮质醇水平升高的风险，对可能需要此类减压计划的人的影响是否更大。我们纳入了测量皮质醇水平变化的 RCT。基于使用血液样本的 10 项研究，与对照组相比，冥想干预从测试前到测试后具有显着的中等效果。仔细检查后，这种影响仅存在于有风险的样本中，即患有躯体疾病的患者。在使用唾液样本的 21 项研究中，影响很小且不显着，但对生活在压力生活环境中的群体有轻微的影响。这种模式可能表明冥想干预对高危人群最有益。这些干预措施可能会为人们提供有助于提高幸福感的压力管理策略。初步结果表明，冥想干预的好处可能不会随着时间的推移而消失。