A meta-analysis of the relationship between trait mindfulness and substance use behaviors

This meta-analysis quantified the trait mindfulness-substance use behaviors relationship, which can be used as future effect size estimates. Findings also indicated that the trait mindfulness-substance use behaviors relationship was more robust: (1) for alcohol and tobacco use compared to marijuana use behaviors; (2) for problematic compared to non-problematic substance use behaviors; and (3) with inpatient compared to outpatient and non-clinical samples. Further work should continue to examine if acting with awareness, non-judgment, and non-reactivity mindfulness facets are more robustly associated with substance use behaviors. Failure to consider these factors, or collapsing across these factors, could explain the smaller or inconsistently reported associations across previous studies.