Mindfulness disposition as a protective factor against the psychological impact of the coronavirus pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The study aims to review and perform a meta-analysis of studies about the relationshipbetween mindfulness disposition and psychological outcomes during the COVID-19pandemic. Ten electronic databases were searched from November 2021 to March2022. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted. Forty-four studies wereincluded in the meta-analysis, and 15 studies were considered for the qualitativesynthesis. Pearson correlations analysis was conducted. Anxiety and dispositionalmindfulness were found to be moderately negatively correlated (r = −0.397; p < .001),as well as depression and dispositional mindfulness (r = −0.323; p < .001). A weaknegative correlation was found for both psychological distress (r = −0.201; p < .002)and COVID-19-related fears (r = −0.136; p < .001). Longitudinal studies included inthe systematic review also suggest the stability of these associations over time.Mindfulness disposition is negatively associated with anxiety, stress, fears, anddepression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness represented a protectivefactor against negative psychological reactions. Its promotion during other challengingperiods should be further explored.