Meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong improve subjective sleep quality in older adults with sleep disturbance, with meditation showing the highest probability of being ranked best.
In a network meta-analysis of 45 studies with 3,568 participants, meditation (MD -3.49, 95% CrI -4.92 to -2.09), yoga (MD -2.40, 95% CrI -4.55 to -0.27), qigong (MD -2.21, 95% CrI -4.01 to -0.42), and tai chi (MD -1.87, 95% CrI -2.99 to -0.77) were associated with improvements in sleep quality compared to control. Meditation also showed superior efficacy compared to sleep hygiene education (MD -2.87, 95% CrI -4.45 to -1.30).
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Meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong improve subjective sleep quality in older adults with sleep disturbance, with meditation showing the highest probability of being ranked best. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study and 1 meta-analysis. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 49/100 (low).
The Claim
Meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong improve subjective sleep quality in older adults with sleep disturbance, with meditation showing the highest probability of being ranked best.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Older adults with sleep disturbance.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Effectiveness of Mind-Body Therapies for Sleep Disturbance in Older Adults: A Network Meta-Analysis. (The Gerontologist, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Mind-body therapies reduce stress and arousal
- ▸Promote relaxation and parasympathetic activity
- ▸Improve circadian rhythm and sleep-wake regulation
- ▸Result: Improved subjective sleep quality
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Older adults with sleep disturbance
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Network meta-analysis based on abstract; full details of study quality and heterogeneity not available
- ▸Potential risk of bias in included trials (assessed with RoB 2 but not reported in abstract)
- ▸Subjective sleep quality only; objective sleep measures not included
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mind-body therapy is most effective for sleep in older adults?▼
Meditation showed the highest probability of being ranked best, with a mean difference of -3.49 compared to control.
How many studies and participants were included in this meta-analysis?▼
45 studies involving 3,568 participants were included.
Are these therapies better than sleep hygiene education?▼
Only meditation demonstrated superior efficacy compared to sleep hygiene education (MD -2.87).
What was the search cutoff date for this review?▼
The systematic search was conducted until December 20, 2025.
References
- 1.Yang H, Wang Z, Wang F, Su J, Gu Z, Liao Y, Liang X, Xu Z. “Effectiveness of Mind-Body Therapies for Sleep Disturbance in Older Adults: A Network Meta-Analysis..” The Gerontologist, 2026. PMID: 42576331 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnag186