Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Social-Emotional Growth (MSEG) Program in Enhancing Mental Health of Elementary School Students in Korea.
Jongtae Kim, Seonyeop Kim, Misan W D Kim, Yong-Han Park, Kanguk Lee, Dong Sun Chung, Youn Hee Kim, Yong-Sil Kweon, Duk-Soo Moon, Hwa-Young Lee, June Sung Park, Yun Hyoung Kang, Seunghee Won, Young Sook Kwack
Behavioral Sciences March 5, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/bs15030315 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 142 |
| Population | Elementary school students in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based Social-Emotional Growth (MSEG) program |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Children Compassion Elementary school Mental health promotion Social–emotional competency |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | The MSEG program led to significant improvements in emotional regulation across all grades, with lower-grade students showing reduced anxiety and depression and upper-grade students showing enhanced resilience. |
Abstract
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among children and adolescents in South Korea have intensified with rising rates of depression and suicide. Proactive interventions focusing on mental well-being are needed to address this critical issue. This study examines the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-based Social-Emotional Growth (MSEG) program for enhancing the mental health of elementary school students in Korea. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of the MSEG program on students at an elementary school in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A total of 70 students (35 from lower grades [grades 1-3] and 35 from upper grades [grades 4-6]) participated in the 12-week intervention group, while 72 students were in the control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured social-emotional, mindfulness, and clinical domains. The findings revealed significant improvements in emotional regulation across all grades. Lower-grade students showed substantially reduced anxiety and depression, while upper-grade students demonstrated enhanced resilience compared to the control group. These results indicate the potential of the MSEG program to promote early mental health when integrated into elementary school curricula. Further research is needed to adapt the program to diverse educational settings and optimize its effectiveness and impact.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- School‐Based Mindfulness Interventions in Primary Education: A Systematic Review Psychology in the Schools October 15, 2026
- Effect of Mindfulness-Based Social-Emotional Learning Approach on Knowledge and Anxiety Levels Regarding Cervical Cancer Prevention. Healthcare August 24, 2026
- Promoting Social-Emotional Competencies Through Mindfulness in Primary Education: The Sentir@Ser Program Education Sciences May 11, 2026
Cites 5
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- The relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience: A meta-analysis. Personality and mental health March 23, 2023
- Effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision on teacher mental health and school climate: results of the MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial. Evidence-Based Mental Health July 12, 2022
- Mindfulness-based school interventions: A systematic review of outcome evidence quality by study design Mindfulness May 23, 2022
- 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