Effectiveness Of Mindfulness Interventions in Reducing Perceived Stress Among Nurses and Nursing Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives While mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depression, their impact on perceived stress, a key driver of burnout and reduced well-being among clinical nurses and nursing students remains underexplored. This study synthesizes evidence on the effects of MBIs in mitigating perceived stress within this high-stress professional group, focusing on intervention delivery, settings, and methodological variations. Methods A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase, identifying studies evaluating the effects of mindfulness on perceived stress. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using random-effects models. Thirty-six studies involving 2,201 participants were included. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for (1) one-sample pre-post designs and (2) intervention-control designs. Subgroup analyses examined variables including control type (active vs. non-active), intervention mode (instructor-led vs. self-directed), intervention setting (workplace vs. non-workplace). Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of findings. Results Mindfulness interventions significantly reduced perceived stress, with medium effects in one-sample pre-post studies (SMD = -0.54 [-0.77, -0.31]) and small effects in intervention-control studies (SMD = -0.21 [-0.37, -0.05]). Subgroup analyses revealed stronger effects for instructor-led interventions, workplace settings, and non-active controls. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of findings, with no single study disproportionately influencing the pooled effect sizes. Conclusions This meta-analysis reaffirms the efficacy of MBIs in reducing perceived stress among clinical nurses and nursing students. Instructor-led and workplace-based interventions emerged as particularly effective. These findings highlight the potential of tailored MBIs to enhance stress management strategies, support mental health, and build resilience in clinical and educational nursing settings. Preregistration This systematic review/meta-analysis was preregistered in PROSPERO (Ref no: CRD42024509223)