The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on emotion regulation/dysregulation in people with mental health conditions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on emotion regulation/dysregulation in people with mental health conditions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Background: we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on emotion regulation (ER) and emotion dysregulation (ED) in people with any mental health condition.
Methods: following a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42024618605), we searched multiple databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, and PubMed) on 04/07/2025. We identified randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) in which the effects of MBIs on ER or ED were measured in people with mental health conditions established by an adequately trained healthcare professional according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (from third to fifth editions) or equivalent diagnosis as per the International Classification of Diseases (ninth or 10th revisions). Pooled effect sizes (Hedge's g) were estimated using random-effect meta-analyses. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.
Results: we identified 19 RCTs, with 16 in the meta-analyses (988 participants in total; 50.71% randomised to MBIs). We found that MBIs significantly improved cognitive reappraisal (k = 6, g = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.98) and reduced overall ED (k = 9; g = −0.54; CI = −0.71, −0.36). Significant reductions in ED domains concerning goal-directedness, impulsivity, and accessing ER strategies were found. Effects for expressive suppression were nonsignificant (k = 6; g = −0.25; CI = −0.94, 0.45) with significant heterogeneity. Study quality significantly moderated both ER outcomes, though not overall ED.
Conclusion: MBIs show potential for improving cognitive reappraisal and reducing ED across diagnoses. However, limited evidence for younger people and self-report measurements warrant cautious interpretation.
clinical populations, emotion dysregulation, emotion regulation, mental health treatment, mindfulness-based interventions, transdiagnostic approaches
16
Easdale‐Cheele, Thomas
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Nash, George
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Filobokova, Veronika
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Westbury, Chloe
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Bellato, Alessio
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Easdale‐Cheele, Thomas
556f5250-340b-4ed0-a2bb-99fb37618012
Nash, George
3ac79f45-56c2-49ee-8a12-c64f58667600
Filobokova, Veronika
3d4cb0d0-994e-4882-a4e6-5c7ce03e4117
Westbury, Chloe
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Bellato, Alessio
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Easdale‐Cheele, Thomas, Nash, George, Filobokova, Veronika, Westbury, Chloe and Bellato, Alessio
(2026)
The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on emotion regulation/dysregulation in people with mental health conditions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.
JCPP advances, , [e70103].
(doi:10.1002/jcv2.70103).
Abstract
Background: we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on emotion regulation (ER) and emotion dysregulation (ED) in people with any mental health condition.
Methods: following a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42024618605), we searched multiple databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, and PubMed) on 04/07/2025. We identified randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) in which the effects of MBIs on ER or ED were measured in people with mental health conditions established by an adequately trained healthcare professional according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (from third to fifth editions) or equivalent diagnosis as per the International Classification of Diseases (ninth or 10th revisions). Pooled effect sizes (Hedge's g) were estimated using random-effect meta-analyses. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.
Results: we identified 19 RCTs, with 16 in the meta-analyses (988 participants in total; 50.71% randomised to MBIs). We found that MBIs significantly improved cognitive reappraisal (k = 6, g = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.98) and reduced overall ED (k = 9; g = −0.54; CI = −0.71, −0.36). Significant reductions in ED domains concerning goal-directedness, impulsivity, and accessing ER strategies were found. Effects for expressive suppression were nonsignificant (k = 6; g = −0.25; CI = −0.94, 0.45) with significant heterogeneity. Study quality significantly moderated both ER outcomes, though not overall ED.
Conclusion: MBIs show potential for improving cognitive reappraisal and reducing ED across diagnoses. However, limited evidence for younger people and self-report measurements warrant cautious interpretation.
Text
JCPP Advances - 2026 - Easdale‐Cheele - The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on emotion regulation dysregulation
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 29 January 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 12 February 2026
Keywords:
clinical populations, emotion dysregulation, emotion regulation, mental health treatment, mindfulness-based interventions, transdiagnostic approaches
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 510152
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510152
ISSN: 2692-9384
PURE UUID: 2dea6aa0-4daa-441f-a56a-aa520c08f83a
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Date deposited: 19 Mar 2026 17:36
Last modified: 20 Mar 2026 03:09
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Contributors
Author:
Thomas Easdale‐Cheele
Author:
George Nash
Author:
Veronika Filobokova
Author:
Chloe Westbury
Author:
Alessio Bellato
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