Talking Circle Mental Health Intervention with a Mindfulness Approach Among Rural Native American Youth
John Lowe, Huigang Liang, Melessa Kelley, Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, Kimberly Wheeler
Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.14574/ojrnhc.v26i1.799 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional descriptive pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Native American youth ages 10-12 from one rural Native American tribe in the Midwestern United States |
| Duration | 3-month post-intervention follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Participants self-reported significant decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs), and commercial tobacco use from baseline to 3 months post-intervention, and a significant increase in Native Reliance (cultural identity). The authors conclude that the findings support a mindfulness approach delivered in a cultural Talking Circle for preventing mental health disorders in this population. |
Abstract
urpose: To examine the outcomes of a mindfulness-based intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth ages 10-12. Sample: Native American student participant sample (N=20) was recruited from schools from one rural Native American tribe in the Midwestern United States. The county where the study was conducted is officially designated as a nonmetropolitan county, and it is classified as rural according to the county-level system.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study measured mental health outcomes that included stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use. All participants were Native American who resided in rural tribal communities.
Findings: Study sample was both female (N-10) and male (N-10), with a mean age of 11.37. Participants self-reported significant decreases in mental health disorders of stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post intervention. Native Reliance (cultural identity) significantly increased from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post-intervention.
Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study support the use of a mindfulness approach delivered in a cultural based Talking Circle intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth
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 |