In an era marked by rising stress levels, emotional dysregulation, and mental health challenges, meditation-based mind-body interventions have garnered increasing attention as evidence-based tools for psychological well-being. This review paper, titled “The Science of Meditation: A Psychological Review of Mind-Body Interventions for Enhancing Happiness and Reducing Stress,” systematically examines empirical research across disciplines to evaluate the efficacy of meditation and related contemplative practices in promoting happiness and alleviating stress. Drawing from a robust body of literature in psychology, neuroscience, and integrative health, this review synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and longitudinal studies spanning the last two decades.

The review categorizes mind-body interventions into mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), loving-kindness meditation, transcendental meditation, yoga-based practices, and focused breathing techniques. It explores their psychological mechanisms of action, including attention regulation, emotional self-awareness, parasympathetic activation, and decreased amygdala reactivity. Furthermore, neurobiological correlates such as reduced cortisol levels, enhanced prefrontal cortex activity, and increased heart rate variability are discussed to support the physiological underpinnings of meditation’s benefits.

Findings consistently reveal that meditation-based interventions significantly reduce perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms while enhancing positive affect, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness. However, the review also identifies gaps, such as heterogeneity in measurement tools, small sample sizes in some studies, and limited long-term follow-up research. Cultural variability in the perception and practice of meditation is also noted as an area requiring deeper inquiry.