Effectiveness of school-based brief cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness in improving the mental health of adolescents in a Japanese school setting: A preliminary study.
Kiun Kato, Yuki Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Hirano
Frontiers in Psychology 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.895086 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental or controlled intervention study (non-randomized, school-based) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 349 |
| Population | 12-13-year-old junior high school students in Japan (nine classes in two schools) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness and Awareness Program (MAP) mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | Eight sessions of 20 minutes each; follow-up assessment conducted (timing not specified) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Adolescents Emotional regulation School-based program |
| Key findings | The Mindfulness and Awareness Program (MAP) was associated with significant improvements in emotional regulation and reductions in depression and generalized anxiety compared with regular school counseling. Effects were greater at follow-up than immediately post-intervention and were stronger in female students. |
Abstract
Emotional regulation is important for adolescents' adaptive development. Preventive interventions for anxiety and depression are necessary for reducing the development of disorders later in life, and emotional regulation is a potentially relevant factor. We investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based psychological education and prevention program [the Mindfulness and Awareness Program (MAP)] on the mental health of junior high school students in Japan. Our MAP primarily focused on mindfulness meditation to improve emotional regulation, thereby reducing depression and anxiety. The MAP comprised eight sessions (20 min each) administered by a school counselor in a school setting. All participants (N = 349) were 12-13-year-old adolescents from nine classes in two Japanese schools. The program was provided to the intervention group, wherein students were educated on emotional expression, emotional cognition, and emotional regulation. The control group received regular school counseling services. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in emotional regulation and a decrease in depression and generalized anxiety. The effect was greater at the follow-up assessment than at the immediate post-intervention assessment, and greater in female students. Our mental health prevention program exhibited efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety and enhancing emotional regulation in early adolescence. Further, it appeared to be more effective for female adolescents.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The Array of Outcomes Associated with Mindfulness Interventions in Schools: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Mindfulness July 6, 2025
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety and depression among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical Psychologist February 9, 2026
- Developing a School-based Mindfulness Intervention for Delivery in Rwanda and Ethiopia: Cultural Adaptation through Knotworking Research Square July 13, 2026
Cites 7
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009
- School-Based Mindfulness Instruction: An RCT Pediatrics December 19, 2015
- Women Benefit More Than Men in Response to College-based Meditation Training. Frontiers in Psychology 2017
- Gender differences in response to a school-based mindfulness training intervention for early adolescents. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2018
- Mindfulness-based interventions in schools—a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 30, 2014
and 2 more in the library