Mindfulness and eating disorder psychopathology: A meta‐analysis

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Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>Mindfulness is implicated in eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. However, this literature has not been synthesized to date. The current meta‐analysis examined the associations between mindfulness and ED psychopathology.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A total of 74 independent samples (effects = 576) were included. We used a multilevel random‐effects model to estimate summary study‐level effect sizes, and multilevel mixed‐effects models to examine moderator effects.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Mindfulness was negatively associated with ED psychopathology (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic> = −.25, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; .001), both concurrently (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic> = −.25, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; .001) and prospectively (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic>s = −.22 to −.24, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic>s &lt; .001). Associations were strongest for binge eating, emotional/external eating, and body dissatisfaction as well as the acting with awareness and nonjudging facets.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>Mindfulness may be an important process in ED psychopathology. Future research should prospectively and experimentally examine the relation between mindfulness and ED psychopathology.</jats:p></jats:sec>