Meditation modalities for ADHD in minority pediatric populations in the USA: a scoping review
S. Bazargan-Hejazi, Christopher Martin, Bell Hall, Jeneane Hamideh, M. Lam, Antonia Osuna-Garcia, Darlene Parker-Kelly, Derek O. Pipolo, Myra Usmani, S. Teruya
Health Promotion Perspectives July 29, 2024 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.42837 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | No eligible studies were found: of 119 search hits, 111 were eliminated and none of the eight full-text-reviewed studies fully met the eligibility criteria. The authors argue that the reviewed studies had incomplete demographic and clinical data and inconsistent methodologies, interventions, and analyses, leaving unclear which populations might benefit from meditation and for which symptoms. They recommend a socio-ecological model and more consistent study design. |
Abstract
Background: Roughly 10% of children aged 3 -17 in the USA are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and minorities are less likely to initiate common pharmacologic treatment. We conducted a review of the literature to examine meditation as a safe, effective, and low-cost alternative.
Methods: We searched PubMed and other journals using "meditation," "mindfulness," "minority," related keywords, and relevant MeSH terms. Eligible studies involved racial/ethnic minorities in the USA, reported quantitative psychosocial outcomes, and were published in a peer-reviewed, English-language journal.
Results: Out of 119 "hits," 111 were eliminated as duplicates or were not relevant. A full-text review of the remaining eight revealed that none fully met our eligibility criteria. Besides the obvious lack of studies, those reviewed reported incomplete demographic and clinical data. They also employed different and inconsistent research methodologies, interventions and modalities, and statistical analyses. This hindered understanding exactly which populations may benefit from meditation, and for which specific symptoms.
Conclusion: We recommend a socio-ecological model in examining intervention modalities, especially in the context of intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, environmental, and policy domains. We also suggest the possible inclusion of research older than 10 years, conducted outside of the USA, on minority and non-minority populations, for supplementary and confirmatory data. We advocate for consistency in study design and data collection, which would help align research conducted in different countries. Searches should also include variations of meditation such as "mindfulness" and "guided imagery," and associated symptoms and comorbidities of ADHD, including "learning disorder" and "behavioral problems."