The effect of universal school-based mindfulness on anhedonia and emotional distress and its underlying mechanisms: A cluster randomised controlled trial via experience sampling in secondary schools
Liesbeth Bogaert, Katleen van der Gucht, Peter Kuppens, Merle Kock, Marieke J. Schreuder, Willem Kuyken, Filip Raes
Behaviour Research and Therapy September 19, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104405 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cluster randomised controlled trial Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 231 |
| Population | Mid-adolescents aged 15-18 years |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | Three assessment points: before, after, and two/three months after the in-class mindfulness training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 30 |
| Key findings | No evidence was found for a significant beneficial and long-lasting impact of universal school-based mindfulness training on adolescents' mental health. The authors suggest that low engagement and mixed attitudes toward the training, barriers linked to universal approaches, may have tempered its effectiveness. |
Abstract
This cluster randomised controlled trial examined the effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training (MT; vs. passive control) to lower anhedonia and emotional distress among mid-adolescents (15–18 years). It further examined three potential mechanisms: dampening of positive emotions, non-acceptance/suppression of negative emotions, and perceived social pressure not to experience/express negative emotions. Adolescents (n control = 136, n intervention = 95) participated in three assessment points (before, after and two/three months after the in-class MT), consisting of Experience Sampling (ES) assessments and self-report questionnaires (SRQs) to corroborate the ES assessments. Analyses were based on general linear modelling and multilevel modelling. Overall, no evidence was found for a significant beneficial and long-lasting impact of the MT on adolescents' mental health. Importantly, some barriers inherently linked to universal MT approaches (low engagement in and mixed attitudes towards the MT) may have tempered the effectiveness of the MT in the current trial. Further research should prioritise overcoming these barriers to optimise programme implementation. Additionally, given the potential complex interplay of moderators at micro- (home practice), meso- (school climate), and macro-level (broader context), research should simultaneously focus on alternative ways of delivering MT at schools to strengthen adolescents’ mental health.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Adolescents do not benefit from universal school-based mindfulness interventions: a reanalysis of Dunning et al. (2022). Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- Mindfulness for test anxiety and negative self-evaluation in high school Current Psychology October 1, 2024
- You Can Lead an Adolescent to Mindfulness, but You Can’t Make Them Mindful Mindfulness July 1, 2024
- Motivation Will Forever Restrict the Scalability of Universal School-based Mindfulness Interventions for Adolescents PsyArXiv May 18, 2023
Cites 20
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- Mindfulness training increases momentary positive emotions and reward experience in adults vulnerable to depression: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology July 18, 2011
- School-Based Mindfulness Instruction: An RCT Pediatrics December 19, 2015
and 15 more in the library