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Mindful Moments: Strategies for Alleviating Anxiety in Elementary Students, Both Onsite and Online

Gina Solano

Journal of Education, Innovation, and Communication. January 15, 2026 DOI: 10.34097/jeicom-8-1-3 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative action research Peer reviewed
Population Second-grade students
Intervention Mindfulness lessons
Topics Anxiety Meditation
Keywords Mental health Psychological intervention Coping psychology Inclusion mineral Curriculum Psychological resilience Intervention counseling Applied psychology Qualitative research Medical education Clinical psychology Developmental psychology
Key findings Mindfulness-based interventions were reported by teachers to improve students' ability to manage anxiety and enhance emotional well-being in both in-person and remote settings.

Abstract

Anxiety in young children has increasingly become a significant concern for classroom teachers in recent years. This issue not only disrupts the learning environment but also contributes to a range of other health-related problems. If left unaddressed, childhood anxiety can lead to long-term mental health issues such as depression and social isolation, as children become accustomed to coping with anxiety on a daily basis. Recognizing the urgency of this problem, this curriculum project was developed to design and implement a series of mindfulness lessons aimed at alleviating anxiety among second-grade students. Initially, these lessons were delivered in person on a weekly basis. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to remote learning. Despite this transition, the mindfulness activities continued to be delivered through online instruction, providing significant benefits to the young students during this challenging period. The primary objective of this qualitative action research study was to create and evaluate mindfulness-based interventions as a viable approach to enhancing student learning and emotional well-being in the classroom. The results of the study indicated that mindfulness-based interventions were highly effective in both settings. Teachers reported noticeable improvements in students' ability to manage anxiety and enhance their overall emotional well-being. Consequently, the study recommends the inclusion of mindfulness practices in the daily routines of elementary schools to foster a supportive and nurturing learning environment. This approach not only addresses immediate anxiety-related issues but also contributes to the long-term mental health and resilience of young students.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: A qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases 2014 Prospective follow-up with qualitative content analysis n = 10
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
Cancer at the Dinner Table: Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Distress Adult participants with clinically elevated anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis 2017 Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis n = 13
Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study Participants who reported extended difficulties following psychedelic experiences 2023 Convergent mixed-method study n = 608
Mindfulness and compassion-oriented practices at work reduce distress and enhance self-care of palliative care teams: a mixed-method evaluation of an “on the job“ program Interdisciplinary palliative care team staff 2017 Observational mixed-method pilot evaluation n = 28

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