Exploring an intensive meditation intervention for incarcerated youth
Elizabeth S. Barnert, Samuel Himelstein, Sarah Herbert, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Lisa Chamberlain
Child and Adolescent Mental Health February 11, 2013 DOI: 10.1111/camh.12019 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention with mixed methods Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Incarcerated adolescent males |
| Interventions | meditation retreat 10-week meditation programme |
| Duration | One-day meditation retreat and 10-week meditation programme |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Clinical psychology Impulsivity Group cohesiveness Mindfulness meditation Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 50 |
| Key points | Meditation training for incarcerated adolescent males was associated with improved self-regulation and psychological enhancement, but no behavioral change was observed. |
Abstract
Background: We examined the experiences of incarcerated adolescent males (N = 29) who participated in a one-day meditation retreat and 10-week meditation programme.
Method: Self-report surveys assessing mindfulness, self-regulation, impulsivity and stress; behavioural assessments; and focus group data were examined.
Results: We observed significantly higher scores in self-regulation (p = .012) and psychometric markers demonstrated psychological enhancement. No behavioural change was observed. Six themes emerged: enhanced well-being, increased self-discipline, increased social cohesiveness, expanded self-awareness, resistance to meditation and future meditation practice.
Conclusions: Early evidence suggests that meditation training for incarcerated youth is a feasible and promising intervention.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Children with Mental Health Problems: a 2-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Study Mindfulness October 16, 2021
- The Effects of Neuroscience-Based Mindfulness Training on Adolescents International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies October 20, 2023
- A Pilot Study to Adapt a Trauma-Informed, Mindfulness-Based Yoga Intervention for Justice-Involved Youth. International Journal of Yoga Therapy 2021
- A Pilot Study of a Meditation and Mindfulness Program with Detained Juveniles: An Adaptation of Inner Resources for Teens (IRT) Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice 2020
- Mindfulness-based interventions for youth in the criminal justice system: a review of the research-based literature. Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law June 14, 2018
and 5 more in the library
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Assessing adolescent mindfulness: Validation of an Adapted Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in adolescent normative and psychiatric populations. Psychological Assessment 2011
- Sitting-meditation interventions among youth: a review of treatment efficacy. Pediatrics August 24, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Massachusetts Correctional Facilities The Prison Journal June 1, 2007
- A qualitative investigation of the experience of a mindfulness-based intervention with incarcerated adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health November 1, 2012
and 1 more in the library