Universal Mindfulness Training in Schools for Adolescents: a Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Moderators, Mediators, and Implementation Factors
Kate Tudor, Shannon Maloney, Anam Raja, Ruth A. Baer, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Sarah Byford, Catherine Crane, Tim Dalgleish, Katherine Wilde, Tamsin Ford, Mark Greenberg, Verena Hinze, Liz Lord, Lucy Radley, Emérita Sátiro Opaleye, Laura Taylor, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Russell M Viner, Willem Kuyken, Jesus Montero-Marin, Myriad Team
Prevention Science August 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-022-01361-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Young people in school settings |
| Intervention | Universal school-based mindfulness training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | School-based programmes Adolescence Universal interventions Prevention programmes Mediators Moderators Implementation |
| Key findings | Evidence on moderators of universal school-based mindfulness training is mixed, but increases in mindfulness skills and decreases in cognitive reactivity and self-criticism may mediate better pupil outcomes. |
Abstract
There is evidence that universal school-based mindfulness training (SBMT) can have positive effects for young people. However, it is unknown who benefits most from such training, how training exerts effects, and how implementation impacts effects. This study aimed to provide an overview of the evidence on the mediators, moderators, and implementation factors of SBMT, and propose a conceptual model that can be used both to summarize the evidence and provide a framework for future research. A scoping review was performed, and six databases and grey literature were searched. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select relevant material. Quantitative and qualitative information was extracted from eligible articles and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search produced 5479 articles, of which 31 were eligible and included in the review. Eleven studies assessed moderators of SBMT on pupil outcomes, with mixed findings for all variables tested. Five studies examined the mediating effect of specific variables on pupil outcomes, with evidence that increases in mindfulness skills and decreases in cognitive reactivity and self-criticism post-intervention are related to better pupil outcomes at follow-up. Twenty-five studies assessed implementation factors. We discuss key methodological shortcomings of included studies and integrate our findings with existing implementation frameworks to propose a conceptual model. Widespread interest in universal SBMT has led to increased research over recent years, exploring who SBMT works for and how it might work, but the current evidence is limited. We make recommendations for future research and provide a conceptual model to guide theory-led developments.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 30
- The effect of universal school-based mindfulness on anhedonia and emotional distress and its underlying mechanisms: A cluster randomised controlled trial via experience sampling in secondary schools Behaviour Research and Therapy September 19, 2023
- How we teach mindfulness matters: Adolescent development and the importance of informal mindfulness. Journal of school psychology August 1, 2024
- Strong Mind, Strong Body: The Promise of Mind-Body Interventions to Address Growing Mental Health Needs Among Youth. Mental health science June 1, 2023
- Mindfulness in Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pediatric Reports May 14, 2025
- The Array of Outcomes Associated with Mindfulness Interventions in Schools: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Mindfulness July 6, 2025
and 25 more in the library
Cites 17
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences December 21, 2018
and 12 more in the library