Using Mindfulness to Promote Mental Health in Schools
December 2, 2025
Lindsey Webb, Erica Sibinga
Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to provide information on current mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs for youth. The mechanisms of MBSR’s salutary effects are outlined and best practices are described for those who might be interested in implementing MBSR in a school setting. The chapter overviews how MBSR impacts youths’ mental health and how MBSR has been modified to...
AIDS Care
2025
Yan Wang, Carla J. Berg, Yeycy Donastorg et al.
2 citations
Female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV experience greater depression and worse HIV outcomes than people living with HIV (PLHIV) overall. Mindfulness is related to lower depression and higher ART adherence in PLHIV. Few studies have assessed these relationships among FSW, especially longitudinally. This study assessed the temporal relationship between mindfulness, mental health and HIV...
Global advances in integrative medicine and health
2025
Srisindu Vellanki, Christina Holbein, Adoma Boateng et al.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to be beneficial for adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but little is known about its use in pediatric IBD. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an MBSR program delivered by live-video during the COVID-19 pandemic for youth with IBD. Four cohorts of an 8-session MBSR program were conducted via a...
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
December 1, 2024
Reagan L. Miller, Lauren B Shomaker, Mark A. Prince et al.
2 citations
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to test if a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) compared to an active control ameliorates the impacts of life stressors on momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents exposed to chronic stressors. METHOD: Adolescents exposed to chronic stressors (N = 81, Mage = 13.75 years; 56% boys; 24% Hispanic/Latino, 57% White) were...
Explore (NY)
November 9, 2021
Dana D. DiRenzo, Carly Hunt, Erica Sibinga et al.
5 citations
ObjectiveMeditation is a stress-reduction and contemplative technique that can improve emotional distress in people with chronic disease and may be especially beneficial for patients with rheumatic diseases. However, patient access to in-person programs is challenging. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility/acceptability associated with physician-directed use of a widely...
AIDS Care
July 1, 2018
Deanna Kerrigan, Suzanne M. Grieb, Jonathan M. Ellen et al.
31 citations
Youth living with HIV have sub-optimal rates of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mindfulness instruction interventions have shown promise for improving medication adherence, but the effects and mechanisms of these interventions are still being explored among people living with HIV, including youth. In the context of a randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based...
May 1, 2018
Erica Sibinga, Lindsey Webb, Jonathan M. Ellen
Background Urban youth are exposed to significant and recurrent stress and trauma, related to community and interpersonal violence, failing schools, and lack of educational opportunities. There is increasing interest in opportunities for male youth to learn techniques that support enhanced self-regulation. Previous research has shown that mindfulness instruction can reduce the negative effects...
AIDS Care
October 25, 2017
Lindsey Webb, Carisa Perry‐Parrish, Jonathan M. Ellen et al.
69 citations
HIV-infected youth experience many stressors, including stress related to their illness, which can negatively impact their mental and physical health. Therefore, there is a significant need to identify potentially effective interventions to improve stress management, coping, and self-regulation. The object of the study was to assess the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)...
Children
February 28, 2017
Robin Ortiz, Erica Sibinga
137 citations
Research suggests that many children are exposed to adverse experiences in childhood. Such adverse childhood exposures may result in stress and trauma, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality into adulthood. In general populations and trauma-exposed adults, mindfulness interventions have demonstrated reduced depression and anxiety, reduced trauma-related symptoms, enhanced...
Adolescent Health Medicine and Therapeutics
September 1, 2016
Erica Sibinga, Nikeea Copeland‐Linder, Lindsey Webb et al.
61 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was introduced in 1995 to address the problem of recurrent depression. MBCT is based on the notion that meditation helps individuals effectively deploy and regulate attention to effectively manage and treat a range of psychological symptoms, including emotional responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. Several studies demonstrate that mindfulness...
EBioMedicine
August 1, 2016
Erica Sibinga
In this issue of EBioMedicine, Shao et al. (2016-in this issue) make a significant and interesting contribution to a growing literature of changes seen in participants who receive formal programmatic instruction in mindfulness meditation. Since Kabat-Zinn's (1982) paper reporting on what would become the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, the literature and application of...
Pediatrics
December 19, 2015
Erica Sibinga, Lindsey Webb, Sharon R. Ghazarian et al.
233 citations
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Many urban youth experience significant and unremitting negative stressors, including those associated with community violence, multigenerational poverty, failing educational systems, substance use, limited avenues for success, health risks, and trauma. Mindfulness instruction improves psychological functioning in a variety of adult populations; research on mindfulness...
Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur
March 1, 2014
Madhav Goyal, Sonal Singh, Erica Sibinga et al.
ImportanceMany people meditate to reduce psychological stress and stress-related health problems. To counsel people appropriately, clinicians need to know what the evidence says about the health benefits of meditation.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of meditation programs in improving stress-related outcomes (anxiety, depression, stress/ distress, positive mood, mental health-related quality...
JAMA Internal Medicine
January 6, 2014
Madhav Goyal, Sonal Singh, Erica Sibinga et al.
2,323 citations
IMPORTANCE: Many people meditate to reduce psychological stress and stress-related health problems. To counsel people appropriately, clinicians need to know what the evidence says about the health benefits of meditation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of meditation programs in improving stress-related outcomes (anxiety, depression, stress/distress, positive mood, mental health-related...
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
February 25, 2011
Erica Sibinga, Deanna Kerrigan, Miriam Stewart et al.
200 citations
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the general acceptability and to assess domains of potential effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and at-risk urban youth. METHODS: Thirteen-to twenty-one-year-old youth were recruited from the pediatric primary care clinic of an urban tertiary care hospital to...