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Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Young People With Cancer: An Integrative Literature Review.

Sheeja Perumbil Pathrose, Bronwyn Everett, Pandora Patterson, Jane Ussher, Yenna Salamonson, Fiona McDonald, Gina M. Biegel, Lucie Ramjan

Cancer Nursing DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000000821 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review Peer reviewed
Population Young people with cancer aged 10 to 29 years
Intervention Mindfulness-based interventions
Topics Meditation
Key findings Across six studies, mindfulness-based interventions were acceptable to young people with cancer, and some studies showed improvements in mindfulness, anxiety, and social isolation while others found no significant psychosocial benefits. The authors argue that MBIs show promise for psychosocial well-being but that adequately powered studies are needed to determine effectiveness.

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated benefits for adults with chronic illness and are becoming increasingly popular among children and young people. Mindfulness-based interventions could have benefits for young people with cancer throughout the treatment journey, through to survivorship. The aim was to review intervention studies about MBI used with young people with cancer between the ages of 10 and 29 years. Six electronic databases were searched. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Six contemporary studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies adapted MBI to be age appropriate and some studies modified the intervention based on cancer-specific needs of young people. Formal and informal MBI activities were found to be acceptable by young people; however, recruitment of the participants was identified as a barrier. Variability in psychosocial outcomes was noted in the review by some demonstrating improvement in areas such as mindfulness, anxiety, and social isolation and others not eliciting significant benefits. Mindfulness-based intervention shows promise as an acceptable intervention that may improve psychosocial well-being for young people with cancer. Future research studies with adequate sample sizes are warranted to determine the effectiveness of MBI among young people with cancer. Mindfulness-based intervention seems to be a promising approach to promote psychosocial well-being and reduce disease burden in young people with cancer. As validated MBI may be implemented without expert training, this could be promoted by healthcare providers, including nurses who care for young people with cancer.

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

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