Study on meditation for depression regardless of demographics

Jeffrey M. Greeson and several colleagues were interested in the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the demographic characteristics of meditators.

To investigate the extent to which MBSR is influenced by religiosity, spirituality, character mindfulness, gender and age, 322 adult subjects with depressive symptoms underwent an eight-week MBSR program in an open-label study.

The course of the depression was observed using multiple regression. The hypothesis that the depressive symptoms would decrease significantly over the course of the study was confirmed.

However, no relevant differences in the change with regard to religiosity, spirituality, mindfulness of character, gender or age were found. In the long term, meditation practice increased the subjects' spirituality and mindfulness compared to the start of the study.

T-tests showed a consistent reduction in depression with MBSR therapy, regardless of demographic characteristics.