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A review finds mixed sleep results in mindfulness studies involving women with cancer

A review of 39 studies found that most reported better sleep quality or less insomnia among women with cancer who took part in mindfulness programs, according to the European Medical Journal. The findings varied, and some studies found no clear difference between groups.

The researchers examined studies involving adult women with cancer who participated in a mindfulness-based program and reported sleep outcomes. Most participants were survivors who had completed treatment, and breast cancer was the most common diagnosis, the European Medical Journal reported.

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The review covered varied programs#

Researchers searched eight databases through January 2026, according to the European Medical Journal. Of the 39 studies included, 18 came from the United States and 24 were randomized controlled trials, in which participants were assigned to different groups.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction was the most common program, usually lasting six to eight weeks. Some programs were offered online or in hybrid formats, the European Medical Journal reported. Mindfulness involves intentionally attending to present sensations, thoughts and surroundings without judgment, according to Wikipedia.

Differences in program formats, duration and comparison measures limit the ability to apply a broad approach across populations, Udaipur Kiran reported. The review also found that relatively few studies examined sleep alongside physical symptoms and biological markers.

Sleep measures produced uneven results#

Some studies recorded improvements within the mindfulness group but found no difference when that group was compared with another, the European Medical Journal reported. Results from actigraphy, an objective sleep measure, varied more than results from questionnaires.

Fatigue was the physical symptom assessed most often and frequently improved alongside sleep, according to the European Medical Journal. Pain findings varied. Biological markers, including cortisol and heart rate variability, were assessed in only a few studies, with inconsistent results.

In a separate trial involving 113 older male cancer survivors, sleep scores did not differ significantly among three groups at the main assessment three months after the programs ended, Medical Xpress reported. One group took part in tai chi qigong, a program combining breathing, movement and guided relaxation.

The European Medical Journal reported that the review's authors called for standardized trials designed around possible mechanisms. The proposed research would examine which forms of mindfulness are suited to different groups of women.

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