Addressing Ethical Concerns in Implementing Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Educational Setting
Rony Berger, Ricardo Tarrasch, Maty Lieblich
Mindfulness August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-024-02332-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Educators and students in Jewish and Arab schools in Israel |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) compassion-based interventions (e.g. mindful self-compassion (MSC)) social-emotional learning |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that implementing mindfulness-based interventions in education raises ethical concerns about balancing personal awareness with concern for others, operating within neoliberal contexts, and respecting cultural difference. Proposes that integrating MBIs with compassion-based interventions such as mindful self-compassion and with social-emotional learning, as done in programs in Jewish and Arab schools in Israel, can address stereotyping, prejudice, and pro-social behavior, and that programs should be adapted to different populations. |
Abstract
AbstractThe burgeoning interest in mindfulness and the way it has been stripped from its Buddhist ontological roots and popularized in the West has recently raised ethical concerns regarding its application in various domains, and more specifically in the educational field. We will address in this article three main ethical concerns regarding implementing mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the educational field. Firstly, how do we help educators and students cultivate personal awareness while at the same time being conscious of the needs of others and promote a pro-social orientation? Secondly, how do we ethically implement MBIs in the current neoliberal social, cultural, and political context? Thirdly, how do we implement MBIs in a culturally sensitive manner respecting the ethics of other ethnic groups and other societies? We will attempt to offer solutions to those issues by exemplifying how MBIs are integrated with compassion-based interventions (e.g., mindful self-compassion (MSC)) and social-emotional learning (understanding and managing emotions, building positive relationships, and making responsible decisions) among educators and students in Jewish and Arab schools in Israel. We will discuss three MBI programs that incorporate strategies addressing social ailments such as stereotyping and prejudicial attitudes and promote pro-social behavior as well as share research findings regarding their efficacy. Additionally, we will outline ways in which these mindfulness-based programs were adapted to suit different populations. Finally, we will conclude by pointing to future means to address these issues.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The predictive values of state and trait mindfulness on emotion understanding in primary school children Frontiers in Psychology July 10, 2026
- From Buddhist meditation to psychological well-being: an ethical-cultural training ecology model Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2026
- Culturally Responsive Mindfulness for Trauma Recovery in Foster Youth. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma September 2026
- The efficacy of mindfulness based interventions in mitigating stress and fostering enhanced mindfulness among higher education students. The Journal of general psychology June 25, 2026
Cites 10
- Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy Mind, Brain, and Education August 16, 2013
- Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Developmental Psychology November 10, 2014
- Mindfulness, by any other name…: trials and tribulations of sati in western psychology and science Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- Contemplative Education: A Systematic, Evidence-Based Review of the effect of Meditation Interventions in Schools Educational Psychology Review March 1, 2015
- A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based School Interventions with Early Adolescents Mindfulness July 18, 2018
and 5 more in the library