Mindfulness-based Intervention in Elementary School Students With Anxiety and Depression: A Series of n-of-1 Trials on Effects and Feasibility.
Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Éric Lacourse, Catherine Herba, Geneviève Taylor, Leila Ben Amor
Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine August 30, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/2156587217726682 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-subject experimental A-B-A design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Three elementary school students in grades three and four with a diagnosis of anxiety or depression disorder, plus their teacher |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | 10 measurement occasions at baseline, during the intervention, and at follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Feasibility studies Anxiety disorders Students Female Clinical psychology Cognitive-behavioral therapy Abnormal child psychology Mindfulness-based meditation |
| Key findings | Two of three students reported improvements in anxiety and depression after the mindfulness-based intervention, while their teacher reported deteriorating scores on these variables. The authors interpret these n-of-1 results as consistent with other work suggesting caution regarding the overall impact and efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions as a universal treatment option for youth. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions constitute a promising option to address anxiety and depression in elementary school students. This study evaluated the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on anxiety and depression in elementary school students with a diagnosis of anxiety or depression disorder. A single-subject experimental A-B-A design was used. Participants were three elementary school students from grades three and four, along with their teacher. Anxiety and depression were measured on 10 occasions at baseline, during the intervention, and at follow-up. Primary hypotheses were tested using a univariate single case multilevel modeling strategy and visual analysis. Following intervention, 2 participants reported improvements on anxiety and depression, while their teachers reported deteriorating scores on these variables. Results from this n-of-1 trial design is consistent with other work suggesting caution with regard to the overall impact and efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions as a universal treatment option for youth. Future research is warranted.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Students With Psychiatric Disorders in a Special Education Curriculum: A Series of n-of-1 Trials on Internalized and Externalized Symptoms Frontiers in Education September 3, 2018
- Differential effects of digital mindfulness-based interventions on creative potential and responsibility among middle school students. British Journal of Educational Psychology September 1, 2024
- Impact of Pyramid Meditation On Anxiety and Stress Among Youth International Journal of Life Science and Pharma Research June 13, 2023
- A moderation examination of the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on primary school students’ symptoms of inattention, depression, and anxiety Research Square February 9, 2026
- School-Based meditation in adolescents: an integrative literature review International journal of adolescent medicine and health January 20, 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 10
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2014
and 5 more in the library