The use of mindfulness‐based interventions with children
Anne S. Walters
The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter December 11, 2023 DOI: 10.1002/cbl.30761 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The text describes the rise of mindfulness-based interventions for children and their promotion as treatments for ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and stress, and cites Kabat-Zinn's definition of mindfulness as present-moment, non-judgmental attention. No empirical findings or conclusions are reported in the available text. |
Abstract
In the last 10 years, mindfulness has become a popular approach for managing strong or distressing feelings for adults and children. Particularly for children, mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) have been touted as a modality for the treatment of conditions ranging from attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and stress. Jon Kabat‐Zinn, the widely recognized originator of medically based mindfulness, defines the concept as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non‐judgmentally” (Kabat‐Zinn, 1982). Practices such as yoga, breathwork, or meditation all incorporate mindfulness to act or react with awareness and with a lack of judgment regarding those thoughts and feelings that arise.
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 2
- 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
- At-home use of app-based mindfulness for children: A randomized active-controlled trial. Mindfulness November 1, 2023