JAMA Internal Medicine
January 6, 2014
Madhav Goyal, Sonal Singh, Erica Sibinga et al.
2,323 citations
A meta-analysis of 47 randomized clinical trials with 3,515 participants found that mindfulness meditation programs produce small to moderate reductions in anxiety, depression, and pain compared to placebo controls. At 8 weeks, effect sizes were 0.38 for anxiety, 0.30 for depression, and 0.33 for pain; benefits for anxiety and depression persisted at 3–6 months. Evidence for improved stress, distress, and mental health-related quality of life was low, and there was insufficient or no evidence that meditation improves positive mood, attention, substance use, eating habits, sleep, or weight. Meditation programs were not superior to active treatments such as drugs, exercise, or other behavioral therapies.
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.
Children
February 28, 2017
Robin Ortiz, Erica Sibinga
137 citations
Children exposed to adverse experiences may suffer stress and trauma linked to poorer health in adulthood. Mindfulness interventions reduce depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms, and improve coping, mood, and quality of life in general and trauma-exposed adults. Studies in children and youth show mindfulness improves mental, behavioral, and physical outcomes. High-quality, structured mindfulness instruction may mitigate negative effects of childhood stress and trauma, improving short- and long-term outcomes and potentially reducing poor adult health. More research is needed to optimize youth mindfulness programs and study long-term outcomes into adulthood.
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.
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.
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.
Explore (NY)
November 9, 2021
Dana D. DiRenzo, Carly Hunt, Erica Sibinga et al.
5 citations
A pilot study tested whether adults with rheumatic diseases would use a smartphone meditation app (Calm) for at least five minutes daily over 30 days. Of 35 mostly female, well-educated participants who began, 18 completed the full study. Those who finished had higher baseline stress, anxiety, pain, and global disease scores than those who dropped out. Completers averaged 283 total minutes of app use and showed significant improvement in fatigue, with trends toward less stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain. The authors conclude that app-based meditation is a feasible non-drug option for improving quality of life and fatigue, but more rigorous research is needed.
AIDS Care
January 1, 2025
Yan Wang, Carla J. Berg, Yeycy Donastorg et al.
2 citations
Among female sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic, greater mindfulness was linked to lower depression and HIV stigma, and higher antiretroviral therapy adherence both at the same time and at later time points. Higher mindfulness also showed contemporaneous associations with reduced at-risk alcohol use and higher viral suppression. The findings suggest that mindfulness instruction could help improve mental health and HIV outcomes in this population.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
December 1, 2024
Reagan L. Miller, Lauren B Shomaker, Mark A. Prince et al.
2 citations
A mindfulness-based intervention combined with community mentoring, compared to mentoring alone, reduced the negative effects of daily life stressors on momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation among adolescents exposed to chronic stressors. In a randomized trial with 81 adolescents (average age 13.75 years; 56% boys; 24% Hispanic/Latino, 57% White), those receiving the mindfulness intervention showed small but significant improvements in mindful attention, mindful nonjudgment, and emotion regulation difficulties at postintervention. The findings suggest mindfulness training may buffer adolescents from the harmful impacts of stress in daily life.
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.
Global advances in integrative medicine and health
January 1, 2025
Srisindu Vellanki, Christina Holbein, Adoma Boateng et al.
A pilot study of an 8-session mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program delivered via live video to youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the COVID-19 pandemic found high attendance and satisfaction. Of 46 participants (average age 14.1 years, 64% female, 81% with Crohn's disease), 69% attended all 8 classes and 77% were satisfied or very satisfied. Focus groups with 27 participants revealed IBD-specific benefits (reduced stress, which some identified as a trigger, and connecting with peers), mental health benefits, and that virtual MBSR was feasible and well-liked despite challenges. Pre- vs post-program data from 30 participants showed statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life, social functioning, and perceived stress. The authors suggest MBSR is a potential adjunctive therapy in pediatric IBD.