The effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on primary school students’ symptoms of inattention, depression, and anxiety: A moderated mediation examination
Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Geneviève Taylor, Terra Léger-Goodes, El Hadj Touré, Caroline Fitzpatrick, Jonathan C. Smith
preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6448641/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal study |
|---|---|
| Population | Elementary school children |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness scores mediated increases in inattention, anxiety, and depression over time in elementary school children. Receiving a mindfulness-based intervention did not significantly moderate this relationship. The authors argue for caution in fostering mindfulness without also teaching emotion regulation skills needed to cope with greater awareness of difficulties. |
Abstract
Abstract The number of mindfulness-based interventions has proliferated in the last decade as accessible evidence-based practices to improve children’s mental health in schools. However, some studies also suggest that mindfulness programs do not have added values compared to other mental health promotion interventions. These differences in effectiveness can partly be due to the lack of definition of what constitutes a mindfulness-based intervention, inconsistency in intervention length and in the training of facilitators. Hence, there is a lack of research and knowledge on the mechanisms that underlie these potential changes. The present study aimed to explore whether dispositional (i.e., trait) mindfulness mediated mental health indicators through time, in elementary school children. A secondary objective meant to evaluate whether receiving a mindfulness-based intervention could moderate such a relationship. Results showed that mindfulness scores mediated indicators of mental health. Specifically, mindfulness mediated increases in inattention, anxiety and depression throughout time. Taking part in a mindfulness-based intervention did not have a significant impact on this relationship. Results thus lend support to exercising caution when aiming to only foster mindfulness abilities, without ensuring that children also learn the emotion regulation skills that are required to deal with the increased awareness of their difficulties.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- Meta-analytic evidence for effects of mindfulness training on dimensions of self-reported dispositional mindfulness. Psychological Assessment 2016
- Mind the Gap: The History and Philosophy of Health Psychology and Mindfulness Revista Psicologia e Saúde June 26, 2018
- Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Support Self-regulation in Young Children: A Review of the Literature. Early childhood education journal March 21, 2022
and 5 more in the library