A Pilot Study of Mindfulness Training for Internalizing Problems among Boarding School Adolescents
Nandy Agustin Syakarofath, Aisyah Nabilah Ardelia
Journal of Community Service and Empowerment August 2, 2026 DOI: 10.22219/jcse.v7i2.42535 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Boarding school adolescents with internalizing problems |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Measures | Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | MBSR training produced a descriptive decrease in internalizing symptoms among boarding school adolescents, but the change was statistically insignificant with a very small effect size, indicating limited effectiveness under current implementation conditions. |
Abstract
Adolescence is a complex transition period prone to various emotional and behavioral problems, particularly for those in boarding school environments characterized by high demands and social pressures. This study explored the application of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training to address internalizing problems among boarding school adolescents. Out of 82 adolescents surveyed, 14 students identified with internalizing problems via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) participated in the intervention. Data were collected through pre-test and post-test scores and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test. The results showed a descriptive decrease in internalizing symptoms; however, the change was statistically insignificant due to a very small effect size. These findings highlight significant implementation challenges, suggesting that while mindfulness shows potential in helping adolescents recognize and manage emotions, its integration within a boarding school setting faces constraints. To achieve more consistent and significant psychological benefits, future interventions should prioritize longer training durations, more ideal measurement intervals, and adjustments to the boarding school's rigorous schedule.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |