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Beneficial Effects of School-based Mindfulness Training On Impulsivity in Healthy Adolescents: Results From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, Susan Druker, Florence Meleo-Meyer, Christine Frisard, Sybil L. Crawford, Lori Pbert

Explore 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2018.07.003 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial (pilot) Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 53
Population High school students in Massachusetts, average age 14.5 years, 40% from ethnic minorities
Interventions Mindfulness training School-based health education
Duration Treatment period ending at end of treatment (EOT), with follow-up 6 months after EOT
Topics Meditation
Keywords Adolescents Health education Impulsivity Mindfulness training School-based programs
Key findings Integrating mindfulness training into standard high school health education was associated with significantly lower impulsivity at the end of treatment (beta = -9.7), but the difference at six months after treatment was smaller and not statistically significant. The authors suggest mindfulness training may have a beneficial effect on adolescent impulsivity, pending larger studies.

Abstract

Since impulsivity is associated with unhealthy behaviors in adolescents, interventions targeting impulsivity could positively affect such behaviors. Whether integrating mindfulness training (MT) into standard school-based health education could improve impulsivity is unknown. To obtain preliminary estimates of effect of MT integrated in standard high school health education on impulsivity. Two high schools in Massachusetts were randomized to school-based health education plus MT (HE-MT) or to health education plus attention control (HE-AC). The outcome was change in impulsivity at end of treatment (EOT) and 6 months after EOT. Students (n = 53; 30 HE-MT, 23 HE-AC) were on average 14.5 years old and 40% belonged to ethnic minorities. Compared to the control condition, HE-MT had significant effects on impulsivity at EOT (beta = -9.7; SE = 3.8, p = 0.01), while smaller, non-significant differences were seen 6 months after EOT. This rigorous pilot study suggests that MT could have a beneficial effect on impulsivity in adolescents. Improvements in impulsivity could have important implications should future larger studies show that such improvements result in healthier behaviors.

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

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Meditation