H - 18 Mindfulness-Based Interventions for ADHD in Latinx Children: Opportunities for Culturally Informed Treatment
Monica Y Garza Saenz, Beatriz MacDonald Wer, Sari Bar, Ellen Greenwald, Ana F. El-Behadli, Richard Adams, Veronica Bordes Edgar
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology October 20, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad067.336 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | U.S. school-aged children aged 8 to 12 with ADHD as the primary diagnosis, with a focus on Latinx children |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) meditation MBSR MBCT |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The reviewed studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to improve attention span, reduce ADHD symptoms, and reduce stress in children with ADHD. However, only five U.S. studies met inclusion criteria, and none delivered interventions in Spanish, which the authors argue leaves a significant gap in research for Spanish-speaking Latinx children. |
Abstract
Abstract Objective This literature review examines the current understanding of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children residing in United States (U.S), with a particular focus on research available for Latinx children. Data Selection A comprehensive literature search was conducted in February 2023 using four databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, OVID, and Scopus) to identify studies conducted in the U.S. that investigated the use of MBIs for the treatment of ADHD symptoms in school-aged children. The search was limited to studies conducted within the U.S., included participants aged 8 to 12, and specified ADHD as the primary diagnosis. The search terms used included mindfulness, meditation, MBSR, MBCT, children, school-aged, child, ADHD, and attention deficit disorder. The search yielded 155 studies, of which, five were included in the final review. Data Synthesis The reviewed studies suggest that MBIs have the potential to improve attention span, reduce ADHD symptoms, and address associated problems such as reducing stress in children with ADHD. However, the number of studies conducted in the U.S. is limited, with none delivered in Spanish. Conclusions MBIs show promise for managing ADHD symptoms in children. However, limited research on MBIs with Latinx populations in the US highlights a significant gap in the literature. There is a crucial need for more studies investigating the efficacy of MBIs with diverse populations, especially Spanish-speaking Latinx children who are underrepresented. Researchers must prioritize developing culturally-sensitive MBIs that can be adapted and delivered in Spanish to reduce disparities in access to evidence-based treatments for ADHD.
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 |