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Exploring the Feasibility and Acceptability of Compassion and Mindfulness Training for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Caregivers.

Emilie Bundgaard Lindkvist, Steffen U Thorsen, Cecilie Paulsrud, Stine Møller Sildorf, Annette Korsholm Mouritsen, Lone O Fjorback, Nanja Holland Hansen, Jannet Svensson

Acta Paediatrica September 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/apa.70777 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Feasibility study, open-label Qualitative Peer reviewed
Sample size 43
Population Adolescents aged 12-17 years with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers, recruited from two diabetes centres
Interventions Mindfulness training Compassion training
Duration Eight-week course
Measures PAID, WHO-5
Topics Meditation
Keywords Type 1 diabetes Adolescents Compassion
Key points The authors report that mindfulness training for adolescents and compassion training for caregivers appear feasible and acceptable, with completers showing improvements in diabetes distress (PAID) and well-being (WHO-5). Adding a face-to-face pre-meeting improved adherence and retention, particularly among adolescents, and qualitative accounts suggested increased parental calmness and kindness reduced parent-adolescent conflicts.

Abstract

Aim: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of mindfulness training for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and compassion training for caregivers.

Methods: Adolescents aged 12-17 years with T1D, and their caregivers were recruited from two diabetes centres between 2022 and 2023 to participate in an eight-week, online, open-label course (Mindfulness training for adolescents; compassion training for parents). Patient-reported outcomes, glycaemic outcomes and stress measures were collected during pre-specified in-clinic visits. The changes over the course of the study were assessed descriptively.

Results: Thirteen adolescents (age 13.6 ± 1.2 years; 62% female) and 30 caregivers (age 46.8 ± 4.7 years; 65% female; 83% with medium- or long-term education) were enrolled; nine adolescents and 21 parents completed this feasibility study. Interventions were delivered in two rounds. After introducing a face-to-face pre-meeting before the second round, adherence and retention improved, particularly among adolescents. Completers reported positive experiences and showed improvements in diabetes distress (PAID) and well-being (WHO-5). Qualitative findings suggested that increased parental calmness and kindness reduced parent-adolescent conflicts, and parents valued peer support and community.

Conclusion: Compassion and mindfulness training appear feasible and may support mental well-being in families with T1D; however, broader reach requires integration into routine clinical care.

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

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