Mindfulness Based Programs Implemented with At-Risk Adolescents.
Kristen E Rawlett, Debra Scrandis
The open nursing journal April 30, 2016 DOI: 10.2174/187443460160101090 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | At-risk adolescents, approximately ages 10-19, in the reviewed studies; several focused on male students with low socioeconomic status and existing mental health diagnoses |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Interventions Academic achievement At-risk adolescents Age 10-19 Mindfulness based programs |
| Key findings | Only 11 primary studies (2009–2015) investigated mindfulness-based programs in at-risk adolescents, using seven different programs, which the authors say makes findings difficult to generalize for practice. Only three were randomized controlled trials, mostly involving male students of low socioeconomic status with existing mental health diagnoses. The authors contend there is a relationship between health behaviors and academic achievement and call for research on mindfulness effects on academic achievement in at-risk youth. |
Abstract
Objective: This review examines studies on mindfulness based programs used with adolescents at-risk for poor future outcomes such as not graduating from high school and living in poverty.
Method: The keywords used include mindfulness, at-risk and adolescents in each database to search CINAHL (10 items: 2 book reviews, 3 Dissertations, and 5 research articles), Medline EBSCO (15 research articles), and PubMed (10 research articles). Only primary research articles published between 2009- 2015 in English on mindfulness and at-risk adolescents were included for the most current evidence.
Results: Few studies (n= 11) were found that investigate mindfulness in at-risk adolescents. These studies used various mindfulness programs (n = 7) making it difficult to generalize findings for practice. Only three studies were randomized control trials focusing mostly on male students with low socioeconomic status and existing mental health diagnoses.
Conclusion: There is a relationship between health behaviors and academic achievement. Future research studies on mindfulness based interventions need to expand to its effects on academic achievement in those youth at-risk to decrease problematic behaviors and improve their ability to be successful adults.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness as a protective factor against online risk-taking in middle school-aged children: the predictive effects of demographic and personal characteristics. Frontiers in Psychology February 4, 2026
- Mindfulness based intervention with an attentional comparison group in at risk young adolescents: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Integrative Medicine Research April 12, 2019
Cites 5
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Urban Youth The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine February 25, 2011
- Exploring an intensive meditation intervention for incarcerated youth Child and Adolescent Mental Health February 11, 2013
- Mindfulness-based interventions in schools—a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 30, 2014
- A qualitative investigation of the experience of a mindfulness-based intervention with incarcerated adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health November 1, 2012