The Effects of Mindfulness on Sleep Quality in Working Adults with Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of mindfulness practices on sleep quality in working adults experiencing stress, a population often overlooked in clinical sleep research. A comprehensive search of six databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ThaiJo, and Google Scholar were conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before October 2024. Eight studies met inclusion criteria, with four comprising 195 participants included in the meta-analysis. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Meta-analysis revealed that mindfulness significantly improved global sleep quality compared to controls (Mean Difference = -0.49; 95% CI: -0.82 to -0.16; p = 0.003; I² = 0%). Subgroup analyses indicated improvements in sleep duration (MD = -0.18; p < 0.001) and reduced use of sleep medications (MD = -0.27; p < 0.001), with no significant changes observed in the other PSQI domains. These findings suggest that mindfulness may be a beneficial non-pharmacological approach for enhancing certain aspects of sleep in stressed working populations. However, the small sample size and modest effect size highlights the need for further high-quality studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods.