Pediatrics
December 19, 2015
Erica Sibinga, Lindsey Webb, Sharon R. Ghazarian et al.
233 citations
A school-based mindfulness program reduced symptoms of stress and trauma among low-income, minority middle school students. Students who received adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reported lower levels of somatization, depression, negative affect, negative coping, rumination, self-hostility, and posttraumatic symptom severity compared to those in a health education program. The study included 300 fifth- to eighth-grade students (mean age 12.0 years) from Baltimore City Public Schools, most of whom were African American and eligible for free lunch. The findings suggest mindfulness instruction can improve psychological functioning in vulnerable urban youth.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
February 25, 2011
Erica Sibinga, Deanna Kerrigan, Miriam Stewart et al.
200 citations
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for HIV-infected and at-risk urban youth aged 13–21 was generally acceptable, with 79% of 33 participants attending most sessions. Among 26 program completers (77% female, all African American, average age 16.8 years), quantitative measures showed significant reductions in hostility, general discomfort, and emotional discomfort. Qualitative interviews with 10 participants indicated perceived improvements in interpersonal relationships, school achievement, physical health, and reduced stress. Due to the small sample and lack of a control group, it cannot be determined whether changes resulted from MBSR or nonspecific group effects.
AIDS Care
October 25, 2017
Lindsey Webb, Carisa Perry‐Parrish, Jonathan M. Ellen et al.
69 citations
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, compared to an active control, improved psychological and HIV-disease outcomes in HIV-infected adolescents. At three-month follow-up, MBSR participants reported higher mindfulness, problem-solving coping, and life satisfaction, and lower aggression. At post-program, they showed higher cognitive accuracy when faced with negative emotion stimuli. Those in the MBSR group were also more likely to have or maintain reductions in HIV viral load at three-month follow-up, suggesting improved HIV disease control, possibly due to better medication adherence. The findings indicate MBSR instruction is beneficial for psychological and HIV-disease outcomes in this population.
AIDS Care
July 1, 2018
Deanna Kerrigan, Suzanne M. Grieb, Jonathan M. Ellen et al.
31 citations
Youth living with HIV often struggle to take antiretroviral therapy (ART) consistently. In a randomized controlled trial of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, interviews with 20 participants aged 13–24 revealed that adherence challenges were tied to managing HIV as a stigmatized chronic condition alongside other social stressors. Those in the MBSR program reported that mindfulness helped them non-judgmentally observe and accept difficult thoughts and feelings about living with HIV and taking ART, which led to greater adherence. The findings suggest mindfulness training may foster self- and illness-acceptance, improving HIV outcomes.
May 1, 2018
Erica Sibinga, Lindsey Webb, Jonathan M. Ellen
Male urban youth in public schools who received school-based mindfulness instruction showed improved self-regulation compared to those who did not. The instruction aimed to reduce the negative effects of stress and trauma from community violence, failing schools, and limited educational opportunities. The findings suggest that mindfulness training can support self-regulation in this population.