Learning to BREATHE: A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Support Marginalized Youth.
Amy L Eva, Natalie M Thayer
Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine March 23, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/2156587217696928 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot pre-post intervention study with focus groups Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 23 |
| Population | Adolescents and young adults aged 17 to 20, mostly male students of color, identified as at risk of school failure during the transition from high school to young adulthood |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | 6 weeks |
| Measures | Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale, Perceived Stress Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Focus groups Pilot projects Self concept Awareness Thinking Attention Adolescent Female Young adult Stress Adolescence Emotion Self-regulation At risk |
| Key points | Pre- and post-intervention surveys indicated statistically significant improvements on the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale and three Perceived Stress Scale items, with small to moderate effect sizes, suggesting lower perceived stress and higher self-esteem. Focus group participants most valued the body scan practice, and analysis yielded themes of self-regulation, attention-awareness, and positive thinking. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based curricular interventions can support adolescents who are at risk of school failure as they negotiate the transition from high school into young adulthood. Researchers hypothesized that a 6-week mindfulness-based intervention would lower participants' perceived stress while increasing their reported levels of self-esteem. Participants (N = 23) ranged in age from 17 to 20 years while the majority were male students of color. Pre- and postintervention survey mean responses revealed statistically significant differences on the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale and 3 items on the Perceived Stress Scale (with small to moderate effect sizes). Postintervention focus group (n = 8) data indicated that the most valued daily practice was the body scan technique. Open coding of the focus group data also revealed several key themes in the form of overarching codes as participants discussed intervention benefits. These included ( a) self-regulation, ( b) attention-awareness, and ( c) positive thinking.
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 10
- Mindfulness-based group intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes: initial findings from a pilot and feasibility randomized controlled trial. Journal of pediatric psychology October 1, 2024
- A Pilot and Feasibility Study on a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Adapted for LGBTQ+ Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health October 16, 2024
- Prompting to Practice: Daily Practice Mediates the Benefits of Supplement to a Mindfulness-Based Intervention. Psychological Reports July 1, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Youth and Students Using Mindfulness to Promote Mental Health in Schools December 2, 2025
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Series. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology June 1, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 14
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2002
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009
- Assessing adolescent mindfulness: Validation of an Adapted Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in adolescent normative and psychiatric populations. Psychological Assessment 2011
and 9 more in the library