Unpacking the Black Box: Exploring Differences in Practices, Skills, and Knowledge Taught in School-Based Mindfulness Programs.
Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research July 1, 2025 Sebrina L Doyle Fosco, Deborah L. Schussler 3 citations
School-based mindfulness programs vary widely in their content, which makes comparing their outcomes difficult. An analysis of twelve written curricula found that all included individual practices, especially body awareness, but only eight included relational practices like kindness or compassion. Programs based on MBSR emphasized awareness of mental states, and longer programs included more interpersonal skills and lessons on focused attention and empathy. Notably, what students learned about mindfulness did not always match what they practiced, suggesting knowledge can be taught without active skill-building. This mapping of curricular ingredients helps clarify which components drive specific outcomes, refine theories of change, and improve teacher preparation.