Objectives Mindfulness programs have been widely studied due to their documented positive effects on mental health. However, the majority of research has been conducted in Western contexts, often overlooking the cultural specificity of Arab societies. This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing mindfulness levels among Arab populations through a systematic review. Method This review followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted a structured search across PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Almandumah, Marefa, and Shamaa. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed articles published in English or Arabic between 2015 and July 2025, conducted among Arab populations, and employed randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs. Mindfulness was required to be the primary intervention and measured as the sole dependent variable or as one of several dependent variables, with sufficient statistical detail for both experimental and control groups to permit the calculation of effect sizes. Studies were excluded if they lacked these data, did not treat mindfulness as a core component, used a single-group design, or were duplicate records. Results The review included 30 studies that met the eligibility criteria and were conducted in various Arab countries or with Arab participants. Most studies reported improvements in mindfulness levels following the interventions; however, effect sizes varied substantially, ranging from negligible or small effects to implausibly large estimates exceeding conventional expectations in psychological intervention research. The largest effect sizes were observed primarily in studies characterized by small samples, quasi-experimental designs, and locally developed or insufficiently validated measures. Conclusions The synthesized evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions are generally associated with enhanced mindfulness levels in Arab populations. However, the magnitude of reported effects should be interpreted cautiously, as several extreme estimates are likely to reflect methodological or measurement artifacts rather than representative intervention effects. These findings highlight the importance of study design, measurement validity, and cultural adaptation in interpreting outcomes. Further methodologically rigorous research employing validated and standardized translated measures is needed to ensure the reliability of results. Preregistration This study was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (OSF): <a href="https://osf.io/7xnyk">https://osf.io/7xnyk</a>.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Arab Contexts: A Systematic Review of Their Impact on Mindfulness Levels

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发表日期：

2026年7月1日

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Aamer Aldbyani,
Afnan Alhimaidi

摘要

Objectives

Mindfulness programs have been widely studied due to their documented positive effects on mental health. However, the majority of research has been conducted in Western contexts, often overlooking the cultural specificity of Arab societies. This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing mindfulness levels among Arab populations through a systematic review.

Method

This review followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted a structured search across PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Almandumah, Marefa, and Shamaa. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed articles published in English or Arabic between 2015 and July 2025, conducted among Arab populations, and employed randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs. Mindfulness was required to be the primary intervention and measured as the sole dependent variable or as one of several dependent variables, with sufficient statistical detail for both experimental and control groups to permit the calculation of effect sizes. Studies were excluded if they lacked these data, did not treat mindfulness as a core component, used a single-group design, or were duplicate records.

Results

The review included 30 studies that met the eligibility criteria and were conducted in various Arab countries or with Arab participants. Most studies reported improvements in mindfulness levels following the interventions; however, effect sizes varied substantially, ranging from negligible or small effects to implausibly large estimates exceeding conventional expectations in psychological intervention research. The largest effect sizes were observed primarily in studies characterized by small samples, quasi-experimental designs, and locally developed or insufficiently validated measures.

Conclusions

The synthesized evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions are generally associated with enhanced mindfulness levels in Arab populations. However, the magnitude of reported effects should be interpreted cautiously, as several extreme estimates are likely to reflect methodological or measurement artifacts rather than representative intervention effects. These findings highlight the importance of study design, measurement validity, and cultural adaptation in interpreting outcomes. Further methodologically rigorous research employing validated and standardized translated measures is needed to ensure the reliability of results.

Preregistration

This study was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (OSF): https://osf.io/7xnyk.