Mediators of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mediators of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety and depression

T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Johannsen, Maja

AU - Nissen, Eva Rames

AU - Lundorff, Marie

AU - OToole, Mia Skytte

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2022/6

Y1 - 2022/6

N2 - Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies have shown efficacy in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Arguably, acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies target core processes in anxiety and depression by increasing mindful attention, decentering, and acceptance. The present study identified randomized controlled trials of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety and depression. Specifically, we aimed to synthesize the indirect effect of the three putative mediators (i.e., mindful attention, decentering, acceptance) on anxiety and depression.Electronic searches yielded 4989 unique records, which were screened for eligibility by two independent raters, resulting in the identification of 33 eligible studies (30 independent trials). The overall pooled mediating effect of mindful attention, decentering, and acceptance was small to medium (r = 0.145, p < .001). Type of mediation analysis emerged as the only statistically significant moderator. Specifically, studies using correlation-based mediation approaches showed statistically significant mediating effects, while studies using causal time-lag analyses did not yield statistically significant mediating effects. Mediator specificity could not be established.In conclusion, putative mediators of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies mediated treatment effects on anxiety and depression. Limitations in study number, designs, and statistical approaches employed restrict conclusions regarding specificity and causality.

AB - Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies have shown efficacy in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Arguably, acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies target core processes in anxiety and depression by increasing mindful attention, decentering, and acceptance. The present study identified randomized controlled trials of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety and depression. Specifically, we aimed to synthesize the indirect effect of the three putative mediators (i.e., mindful attention, decentering, acceptance) on anxiety and depression.Electronic searches yielded 4989 unique records, which were screened for eligibility by two independent raters, resulting in the identification of 33 eligible studies (30 independent trials). The overall pooled mediating effect of mindful attention, decentering, and acceptance was small to medium (r = 0.145, p < .001). Type of mediation analysis emerged as the only statistically significant moderator. Specifically, studies using correlation-based mediation approaches showed statistically significant mediating effects, while studies using causal time-lag analyses did not yield statistically significant mediating effects. Mediator specificity could not be established.In conclusion, putative mediators of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies mediated treatment effects on anxiety and depression. Limitations in study number, designs, and statistical approaches employed restrict conclusions regarding specificity and causality.

KW - Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies

KW - Cognitive therapy

KW - Mediation

KW - Meta-analysis

KW - Anxiety

KW - Depression

U2 - 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102156

DO - 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102156

M3 - Review

C2 - 35483275

SN - 0272-7358

VL - 94

JO - Clinical Psychology Review

JF - Clinical Psychology Review

IS - June

M1 - 102156

ER -