With so much research attention, so many applications and so much stress, has mindfulness lived up to all the hype?

The short answer is that it’s complicated. Not all outcomes from studies of mindfulness are positive, but a preponderance of the evidence shows overall small to moderate benefits in many areas of human functioning.

Let’s take a look at three representative studies to see some outcomes, with the understanding that most of the research has been done with adults, that research is ongoing and becoming more refined.

Here are just a few of those outcomes from three different perspectives.