Role of meditation to improve children's health: Time to look at other strategies.
Nina A Wilson, Maura Kenny, Alexia S Peña
Journal of paediatrics and child health February 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.15275 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Perspective or review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Transcendental Meditation mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that meditation practices may improve mood, mental health, school attendance, and attention in children and adolescents, but notes limitations in the existing literature. |
Abstract
In the United States, it is reported that up to 7 million of the population practice some form of meditation with the main purpose of improving emotional wellbeing and reducing stress. As the prevalence of mental health conditions continues to climb, other forms of health management strategies, including meditation practices, are increasingly used in adults. The evidence continues to emerge for the use of meditation as a way of managing health conditions in adults as demonstrated in systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials. There is also growing evidence evaluating the use of meditation practices and their potential benefits for child and adolescent health. Studies have identified improvements in mood and mental health conditions, school attendance and attention in the classroom in children and adolescents. This article aims to provide a perspective on commonly evaluated meditation types, such as Transcendental Meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The article also aims to discuss the available evidence for the use of meditation to improve health and general wellbeing of children, including the use of meditation programs in schools, the current downfalls and limitations to the existing literature around meditation, and important points that healthcare practitioners need to consider when discussing the use of meditation as an additional strategy to manage and improve health and wellbeing in children and adolescents.
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 6
- Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study International Journal of Adolescence and Youth August 4, 2023
- Educating Through Attentional States of Consciousness, an Effective Way to Develop Creative Potential? Frontiers in Education March 17, 2022
- Developing VR Clinical Protocols for Integrating Virtual Reality Meditation Training in Adolescent Mental Health Settings CHI Extended Abstracts April 13, 2026
- Nature-Based Meditation Reduces Depressive Rumination and Stress in Adolescents and Young Adults Psychiatry International March 26, 2025
- Chanting and meditation: an 8-week intervention to promote executive functions in school-age children. Applied neuropsychology. Child November 4, 2024
and 1 more in the library
Cites 22
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist 2006
- Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity – A review Frontiers in Psychology September 23, 2014
- Sitting-meditation interventions among youth: a review of treatment efficacy. Pediatrics August 24, 2009
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2014
and 17 more in the library