A Systematic Review of Yoga and Meditation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children.
Natalie A Gonzalez, Navya Sakhamuri, Sreekartthik Athiyaman, Bhawna Randhi, Sai Dheeraj Gutlapalli, Jingxiong Pu, Maheen F Zaidi, Maithily Patel, Lakshmi Malvika Atluri, Ana P Arcia Franchini
Cureus March 1, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36143 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
| Interventions | yoga meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | ADHD Children Meditation ADHD Children Mindfulness ADHD Children Yoga Meditation therapy Yoga therapy |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Yoga and meditation positively affect attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior in children with ADHD, and may also improve anxiety, low self-esteem, and family dynamics. |
Abstract
With attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being a prevalent disorder in childhood, it is essential to acknowledge the different adverse effects the disorder can have on the quality of life in children. Therefore, this systematic review focuses mainly on children. Medical therapy, especially stimulants, can have many side effects. Our systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of other non-medical treatment options for ADHD, such as yoga or meditation. We used PubMed and Google Scholar as databases for this systematic review. Using different combinations of medical subheadings (MeSH) and key terms, followed by the application of several inclusion/exclusion criteria and filters to narrow down our search. From an initial 51,675 articles, we selected 10 papers that passed our screening process and quality check to analyze in depth. Yoga and meditation positively affect various symptoms in children with ADHD, including attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. If done in family group sessions, it also benefited the parents and family dynamics, suggesting a potential option for family therapy. Furthermore, other psychological symptoms, such as anxiety or low self-esteem, appeared to be positively impacted by these interventions. Although yoga and meditation positively influenced children with ADHD, a more in-depth research is necessary with a more significant number of participants and over a more extended period of time. The results of the included studies suggest a substantial benefit. Nonetheless, as the number of studies is limited, at present yoga and meditation could be beneficial as supplemental therapy rather than being used alone as a therapy for ADHD.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Impact of mindfulness-based strategy training on working memory in twice-exceptional students in Saudi Arabia The Education and science journal July 23, 2025
- The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on enhancing attention control efficiency among twice-exceptional students in Saudi Arabia The Education and science journal 2026
- A Systematic Review of Yoga Interventions on the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals and Students International Journal of Yoga May 5, 2025
Cites 6
- Clinical Application of Mindfulness-Oriented Meditation: A Preliminary Study in Children with ADHD International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 22, 2020
- The Differential Impact of Acute Exercise and Mindfulness Meditation on Executive Functioning and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being in Children and Youth With ADHD Frontiers in Psychology June 14, 2021
- A randomised controlled trial (MindChamp) of a mindfulness‐based intervention for children with ADHD and their parents Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry May 24, 2021
- Mindfulness for Children With ADHD and Mindful Parenting (MindChamp): A Qualitative Study on Feasibility and Effects Journal of Attention Disorders July 29, 2020
- A meta-analytic investigation of the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on ADHD symptoms Medicine June 1, 2019
and 1 more in the library