Improving self-regulation in adolescents: current evidence for the role of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Adolescent Health Medicine and Therapeutics September 1, 2016 Erica Sibinga, Nikeea Copeland‐Linder, Lindsey Webb et al. 61 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), introduced in 1995 for recurrent depression, uses meditation to help individuals regulate attention, thereby managing psychological symptoms such as emotional responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. Studies show that mindfulness approaches reduce negative emotional reactions stemming from psychiatric difficulties and stressors in children, adolescents, and parents. Mindfulness may be especially helpful for youth who ruminate. Clinical experience with MBCT is increasingly supported by empirical studies for treating challenging symptoms in youth. This paper describes MBCT, its mindfulness practices, theoretical mechanisms, and reviews studies in adolescents.