Research Resource
A sourced reference page for writers, practitioners, and curious clients tracking how meditation, sound, and complementary wellness practices are being used.
Last updated October 8, 2026
Quick Read
Meditation and complementary wellness practices have moved into the mainstream, while the research on sound-based practices is still developing. The strongest public data is about meditation, yoga, massage, pain management, stress, and music-based interventions. The singing-bowl evidence is promising, but early.
Citable Stats
36.7%
That is nearly double the 19.2% reported in 2002 across the seven approaches tracked in the federal analysis.
Source: NCCIH / NIH analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, published January 2024
17.3%
Meditation was the most used of the seven complementary health approaches in the NCCIH analysis, rising from 7.5% in 2002.
Source: NCCIH National Health Interview Survey 2022 trend graph, based on JAMA 2024 analysis
16.9%
The National Center for Health Statistics found higher use among women, adults ages 18 to 44, Asian non-Hispanic adults, and adults with higher family incomes.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief No. 501, June 2024
23.3%
This matters for women-centered wellness spaces because yoga, meditation, and sound-based practices often overlap in how people seek rest and regulation.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief No. 501, June 2024
80.0%
The same report found 57.4% practiced meditation as part of yoga, showing how movement, breath, and meditative practices often travel together.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief No. 501, June 2024
49.2%
That share rose from 42.3% in 2002. This does not make any approach a substitute for medical care, but it shows why people often look for body-based support.
Source: NCCIH / NIH analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, published January 2024
23.1%
NIMH estimated this represented 59.3 million adults. Wellness practices should be viewed as supportive, not as replacements for mental health care.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health, using 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data
50.6%
This treatment gap is one reason many people also seek accessible practices for rest, nervous-system support, and community care.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health, using 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data
18.2%
The federal report found this was up from 15.6% in 2019. Sound and contemplative practices can support a sense of rest, but they are not replacements for mental health care.
21.4%
The same federal report found an increase from 18.5% in 2019. Wellness practices may be one part of a wider support system, alongside appropriate professional care.
104
The review included 9,617 participants and found significant effects on both physiological and psychological stress-related outcomes.
0.723
The authors described music therapy as showing a medium-to-large overall effect on stress-related outcomes.
19
The studies came from eight countries and were published between 2008 and 2024. The authors reported potential benefits while emphasizing the need for stronger evidence.
9
The review also included seven case series, two randomized crossover studies, and one non-randomized study, which is why its findings should be read as promising rather than conclusive.
14
The review covered studies published over the prior 16 years and called for more rigorous controlled trials and follow-up research. It adds useful context, but does not make singing bowls a replacement for clinical care.
51
The review analyzed 93 effect sizes and found a medium overall effect across anxiety outcomes. It concerns music therapy delivered for health needs, which is distinct from a sound-healing session.
93
The analysis found a medium overall effect across anxiety outcomes and noted that longer-term and physiological outcomes still need further research.
62
Participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood after the session. The study was observational, so it should be read as early evidence rather than proof of a medical treatment.
Source: Goldsby et al., Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2016
Method
This page prioritizes public health agencies, national surveys, peer-reviewed reviews, and indexed clinical research. Numbers are not blended across sources unless the source itself does that analysis. When a finding is about singing bowls or sound baths, it is framed carefully because the research base is smaller than the research base for meditation, yoga, and music therapy.
Dr. Asia Taylor, The Soulful Creatrix. "Sound Healing and Meditation Statistics." Updated October 8, 2026.
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