Mindfulness Training Enhances Students' Executive Functioning and Social Emotional Skills.
Lisa Flook, Matthew J. Hirshberg, Lori Gustafson, Chad Mcgehee, Cara Knoeppel, Lawrence Y. Tello, Daniel M. Bolt, Richard J. Davidson
Applied developmental science 2025 DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2023.2297026 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 292 |
| Population | 5th graders from 21 elementary school classrooms |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, end of year follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Emotional regulation Executive function Intervention Prosocial behavior Social emotional skills |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Students who received mindfulness training showed significant gains in cognitive flexibility and end-of-year social-emotional learning grades, but not in teacher-rated social-emotional competence. |
Abstract
More research is needed to understand the effects of school-based mindfulness programs in the years before adolescence, which represent a critical juncture and transitional period of development. The present study investigated mindfulness with elementary school students using random assignment and objective measures. The sample included 292 5th graders from 21 classrooms randomly assigned to an 8-week mindfulness training or wait-list control group. Students were assessed at pre- and post-intervention on behavioral measures of executive functioning and teacher-rated social emotional competence, along with end of year social-emotional learning report card grades. Analyses using hierarchal linear modeling found that students in the intervention group demonstrated significant gains on a computerized task of cognitive flexibility, and end of year social-emotional learning grades controlling for prior year grades, but not teacher reported social emotional competence. Taken together these findings point to a simple, yet promising method for bolstering students' cognitive and social emotional skills.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Enhancing academic resilience through mindfulness training: an experimental study with Chinese undergraduates and the mediating role of psychological flexibility Frontiers in Psychology November 5, 2025
- School‐Based Mindfulness Interventions in Primary Education: A Systematic Review Psychology in the Schools October 15, 2026
- The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Children’s Executive Functions: An Updated Meta-Analysis Mindfulness August 19, 2026
- Development of a school-based mindful yoga and meditation intervention module for enhancing adolescents' emotion regulation and well-being. Journal of Education and Health Promotion 2025
- Mindful Screens: Enhancing Early Childhood Emotional Awareness through Reflective Animation Media Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini Undiksha April 25, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 11
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Contemplative Education: A Systematic, Evidence-Based Review of the effect of Meditation Interventions in Schools Educational Psychology Review March 1, 2015
- School-Based Mindfulness Instruction: An RCT Pediatrics December 19, 2015
- Mechanisms of Mindfulness Training: Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) Clinical Psychology Review November 5, 2016
- Enhancing Cognitive and Social–Emotional Development Through a Simple-to-Administer Mindfulness-Based School Program for Elementary School Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial Developmental Psychology 2015
and 6 more in the library