Outcomes of Mindfulness Therapy for Adolescents with Mental Health Issues: A Scoping Review
Brian Joel Sapulette, Ida Ayu Mas Prabhasuari, Humairatun Zakiyah, K. Fatmawati, Alessandra Hernanda Soselisa, Sri Warsini
March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/09731342251360104 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents with mental health problems |
| Intervention | Mindfulness therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The review concludes that mindfulness therapy is effective in improving emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical functioning in adolescents with mental health issues, with reported reductions in stress, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, ADHD symptoms, sleep disturbances, and maladaptive behaviors. Outcomes were grouped into emotional and cognitive disorders and behavioral and physical disorders. |
Abstract
Purpose of Review: Adolescents are vulnerable to mental health issues, affecting approximately 14% globally. Mindfulness interventions have shown effectiveness in addressing these issues and offer positive benefits across various domains. This review explores the outcomes of mindfulness therapy for adolescents with mental health problems. Collection and Analysis of Data: This scoping review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles were searched from several databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Emerald, and Proquest) based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on clinical trials of mindfulness therapy for adolescents (2014–2024). After critical appraisal using JBI tools, 11 out of 13 articles were included. Results showed that Mindfulness interventions for adolescents with mental health issues effectively reduced various psychological symptoms. Two categories of outcomes were identified: (a) emotional and cognitive disorders, and (b) behavioral and physical disorders. Conclusions: Mindfulness therapy has been shown to be effective in improving emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical functioning in adolescents, including reductions in stress, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, ADHD symptoms, sleep disturbances, and maladaptive behaviors.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- School-Based Mindfulness Instruction: An RCT Pediatrics December 19, 2015
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Children with Mental Health Problems: a 2-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Study Mindfulness October 16, 2021
- How we teach mindfulness matters: Adolescent development and the importance of informal mindfulness. Journal of school psychology August 1, 2024
- A Mini-Review of Work Stress and Mindfulness: A Neuropsychological Point of View Frontiers in Psychology April 15, 2022
and 12 more in the library