Positive effects of mindfulness meditation on adolescent mental health, especially on anxiety, depression and self-efficacy

Mindfulness meditation training can significantly reduce anxiety and depression levels in adolescents while improving their psychological resilience, according to a review of four empirical studies. This non-invasive, flexible intervention offers a promising approach to addressing adolescent mental health problems, a growing public health concern. The article synthesizes evidence from domestic and international research, exploring the mechanisms by which mindfulness alleviates symptoms and enhances coping abilities. It provides theoretical grounding and practical recommendations for educators and policymakers to support more effective mental health intervention strategies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Adolescent mental health problems have become a public health issue of social concern in re-cent years. Compared with traditional psychological intervention methods, mindfulness meditation, as a flexible and non-invasive intervention method, has shown its potential and has gradually become a research hotspot, providing a fresh viewpoint for mental health education and practice. This article reviews the positive effects of mindfulness meditation training on adolescent mental health, explores its mechanism of alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms and enhancing psychological resilience, in order to support more effective intervention strategies. Through literature review, relevant studies at home and abroad were retrieved, and four empirical papers were analyzed in detail. Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation training can significantly reduce the anxiety and depression levels of adolescents, while effectively improving their psychological resilience. This article summarizes its theoretical basis and practical significance and provides evidence-based recommendations for educators and policy.