Using a Digital Meditation Application to Mitigate Anxiety and Sleep Problems in Children with ADHD
R. Fried, M. Disalvo, Abigail Farrell, J. Biederman
Journal of Attention Disorders December 5, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/10870547211025616 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | Children ages 6 to 12 with ADHD |
| Intervention | Headspace digital mindfulness application |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key points | The Headspace digital mindfulness intervention significantly reduced anxiety and sleep problems in children with ADHD. |
Abstract
Objective: ADHD affects 11% of children in the United States and is associated with significant levels of anxiety. Although the literature supports mindfulness-based interventions as a promising strategy for managing anxiety, it falls short in the feasibility of digital mindfulness interventions.
Method: This study investigated the usefulness of the pediatric version of Headspace, a digital mindfulness program, for reducing stress in 18 children with ADHD. We conducted a 4-week pilot study to evaluate the Headspace digital mindfulness application for children ages 6 to 12 with ADHD. Parents completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire at baseline and endpoint.
Results: Participants had an average age of 9.2 years and were 78% male. The Headspace intervention significantly reduced anxiety and sleep problems in children with ADHD.
Conclusion: Children with ADHD and comorbid anxiety and/or sleep problems could benefit from a digitally based meditation application. (J. of Att. Dis. XXXX; XX(X) XX-XX)
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The use of mindfulness based interventions for school-aged children with ADHD in the United States - a literature review. Child Neuropsychology: A Journal of Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence July 22, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Strategies for Improving Sleep in People with Psychiatric Disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports November 2022
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