School-Based meditation in adolescents: an integrative literature review
Nilson Vieira Pinto, Moreira Sarmento Vivianne Dos Santos, R. Sousa, Áthila Campos Girão, M. Frota
International journal of adolescent medicine and health January 20, 2023 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2022-0059 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents in school settings |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | The reviewed studies reported improvements in emotional coping, social relationships, self-regulation, mood, stress, depression, anger, self-reflection, and academic attention among adolescents practicing meditation at school. The authors suggest elementary and high school students show more significant responses, and that session duration, frequency, and systematization may affect outcomes. They conclude meditation can be a valuable strategy for health promotion and educational training in schools. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives Utility of cognitive-behavioral practice interventions in school settings have been discussed by the scientific community regarding their possibility of insertion in the educational field. In this way, this review article analyzes the scientific production on the practice of meditation offered at school in adolescents, since the appropriation of studies that point to reflections and perspectives of meditative practice can favor the development of new pedagogical trajectories in the school environment. Content The electronic databases VHL, PubMed, and CAPES were consulted, using the combination of the terms related to meditation, adolescents, and school. This analysis resulted in eight articles, including field research and reviews, published between 2010 and 2021. Summary The articles showed improvement in emotional coping skills, social relationships, self-regulation, control of mood levels, stress, depression, and anger, and significant gains in self-reflection and academic attention. They pointed out that elementary and high school students present more significant responses, and these factors, such as duration, frequency, and systematization of the session, can interfere with these responses. Outlook These results indicate that meditation practice in adolescents can be a valuable strategy for health promotion and educational training in the school environment.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Transforming education: A review of the benefits of integrating mindfulness and meditation techniques in schools English Education Journal June 14, 2023
- Psychophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Meditation on High School Students Salud Mental March 19, 2026
- Chanting and meditation: an 8-week intervention to promote executive functions in school-age children. Applied neuropsychology. Child November 4, 2024
Cites 15
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
- Sitting-meditation interventions among youth: a review of treatment efficacy. Pediatrics August 24, 2009
- Contemplative Education: A Systematic, Evidence-Based Review of the effect of Meditation Interventions in Schools Educational Psychology Review March 1, 2015
- School-based Meditation Practices for Adolescents: A Resource for Strengthening Self-Regulation, Emotional Coping, and Self-Esteem Children & Schools July 1, 2010
and 10 more in the library