Assessing the impact of mindfulness programs on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review.
Meshal A Sultan, Faisal A Nawaz, Batol Alattar, Eman Khalaf, Sidra Shadan, Naila El-Abiary, Shakeel Tegginmani, Rakhtan K Qasba, Jigar Jogia
BMC Pediatrics January 14, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05310-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years with ADHD, across studies conducted in five countries |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Duration | Studies with a minimum 8-week duration |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Adolescent Child Attention ADHD Hyperactivity Symptomatology |
| Key findings | Across 11 included studies, six reported improvement in hyperactivity or inattention symptoms and five reported improvement in impulsivity. The authors conclude that mindfulness-based interventions show potential benefits for ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents but stress that high-quality research is needed. |
Abstract
Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder which poses challenges for the individuals with the disorder and their families. While stimulant medications are effective, a comprehensive approach, including psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is recommended. There is a growing body of research exploring the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for children with ADHD. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in reducing ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents through a systematic review of relevant studies.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, our systematic review searched PubMed, Cochrane library, Psycinfo, and Scopus from January 2000 to August 2022. We included studies focusing on mindfulness for pediatric ADHD, comprising various study designs with a minimum 8-week duration. Descriptive statistics summarized results, while risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB and ROBANS tools. The quality of RCTs was further evaluated using the Correlation of Quality Measures tool.
Results: In the initial search, 450 records were identified, and after removing duplicates, 339 underwent screening. Forty-one studies underwent full text assessment for eligibility, with 11 studies meeting inclusion criteria, including seven RCTs, two Quasi RCTs, and three cohort studies. These studies, conducted in five countries, involved participants aged 7 to 18 years. Six studies showed improvement in hyperactivity/inattentive symptoms, and five studies showed improvement in impulsivity.
Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates the potential benefits of mindfulness programs on ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. This study emphasizes the need for high-quality research to explore mindfulness-based interventions for ADHD management in younger populations. PROSPERO registration number: IDCRD42024520800.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Breath-Focused Mindfulness and Compassion Training in Parent-Child Dyads: Pilot Intervention Study. JMIR Formative Research July 17, 2025
- Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry September 16, 2026
- Exploring the mind-brain relationship to advance mental health research and practice Current Psychology December 1, 2025
- Emotional and Behavioral Effects of an Online Self-Reflective Meditation Program in Youth With ADHD: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry June 19, 2026
Cites 17
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Journal of Child and Family Studies February 1, 2011
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Behavioral Problems and Attentional Functioning in Adolescents with ADHD Journal of Child and Family Studies September 21, 2011
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays: Implications for Parental Mental Health and Child Behavior Problems Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities July 1, 2013
- Clinical Application of Mindfulness-Oriented Meditation: A Preliminary Study in Children with ADHD International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 22, 2020
- Near and Far Transfer Effects of Computerized Progressive Attention Training (CPAT) Versus Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Practice Among Adults With ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders May 2023
and 12 more in the library