An exploratory cluster-randomized controlled trial on mindfulness yoga's effectiveness in school-refusing children: reductions in SCAS-C physical injury fears and pulse rate.
Suguru Kawazu, Marie Amitani, Hajime Suzuki, Haruka Amitani, Takako Monuki, Midori Wada, Satomi Toyohira, Kazumasa Hamada, Takako Yamamoto, Takuya Yoshimura, Kimiko Mizuma, Yuko Nishida, Hiroko Watanabe, Masayuki Hirose, Koshiro Tagawa, Keiko Ota, Akihiro Asakawa, Tetsuhiro Owaki
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1468729 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Multicenter, exploratory, open cluster-randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Children aged 10-15 years with school refusal |
| Intervention | Mindfulness yoga |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, 8-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Anxiety reduction Cognitive behavioral therapy Mindfulness yoga Pediatric mental health School refusal |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Adding a 4-week mindfulness yoga program to treatment as usual did not significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in children with school refusal compared to treatment as usual alone. |
Abstract
School refusal is one of the serious problems with children's mental health, and various studies have examined its prevalence and factors among students. Although many studies suggested that anxiety and depression are deeply associated with school refusal, there is little agreement as to effective interventions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mindfulness yoga intervention in children with school refusal. This study is a multicenter, exploratory, open cluster-randomized controlled trial. 43 participants aged 10-15 years with school refusal were randomly assigned to a non-yoga group with treatment as usual (TAU) which includes cognitive behavioral therapy based on self-monitoring, or a yoga group (4-week mindfulness yoga program provided by video sessions + TAU). The primary outcome was symptoms of anxiety evaluated by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Children (SCAS-C). Participants were assessed in four time periods: a 2-week baseline (Day -14), a baseline (Day 1), a post-test after 4 weeks of treatment (Day 29), and an 8-week follow-up (Day 85). Statistical analysis was conducted by a linear mixed effect model using SAS version 9.4. 43 participants were included in the Full-analysis set (FAS) (21 in the mindfulness yoga group and 22 in the non-yoga group). The estimates of SCAS-C at post-test adjusted for baseline values in each treatment group were 39.9 in the mindfulness yoga group and 39.4 in the non-yoga group. The between-group difference for the estimates was 0.4 (80%CI -4.8 to -5.6, p = 0.54), which indicated mindfulness yoga program has no significant effect on anxiety compared with TAU. However, on an exploratory analysis of the subscale of SCAS-C, significant improvement was observed on the Physical Injury Fears subscale. The pulse rate was significantly lower in the yoga group compared to the non-yoga group. This study indicated the safety of a mindfulness yoga intervention for children with school refusal, but the effectiveness of the intervention for anxiety was limited. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of yoga and how it can best be integrated with other therapies.
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
Cites 6
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2014
- Yoga and Meditation Benefits in Developmental Age: at School, to Relax the Body and Mind Lubelski Rocznik Pedagogiczny August 28, 2023
- Efficacy of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy on Children With Anxiety. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy November 1, 2020
- Yoga and Mindfulness as a Tool for Influencing Affectivity, Anxiety, Mental Health, and Stress among Healthcare Workers: Results of a Single-Arm Clinical Trial Journal of Clinical Medicine April 1, 2020
- Effect of mindfulness and yoga on quality of life for elementary school students and teachers: results of a randomized controlled school-based study Psychology Research and Behavior Management April 10, 2018
and 1 more in the library