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The effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with mild to borderline intellectual disability.

Sami Abdullah Alsuhimi

Applied neuropsychology. Child May 12, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2025.2502358 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Pre- and post test design Peer reviewed
Sample size 60
Population Children with mild to borderline intellectual functioning, ages 7 to 9 years
Intervention Mindfulness training
Duration 24 sessions
Topics Meditation
Keywords Attention Executive function Mindfulness training
Citations 1
Key points Mindfulness training led to significantly higher scores in inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and total executive function compared to no training.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with mild to borderline intellectual functioning. Two groups of children participated in the study. The first group consisted of 30 children with borderline intellectual functioning, ages ranging from 7 years to 9 years. A group of 30 children, ages ranging from 7 years to 9 years, formed a comparison group. The effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with borderline intellectual functioning and mild intellectual disability were assessed using pre- and post test design. The mindfulness group received 24 sessions of mindfulness training, while the control group received no training at all. The results showed that the post-test scores of inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility and the total score of children in mindfulness group are significantly higher than those in control group.