The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Cultural Excursion Program on Stress, Mindfulness, and Well-Being Among Children Exposed to an Earthquake.
Barış Armutçu, Aslı Tunca, Ümmü Gülsüm Özkaya
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma August 21, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-026-00967-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Children aged 9-11 years living in a container settlement following an earthquake |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Culture Excursion Program (MCEP) |
| Duration | Pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Child Disaster Stress Well-being |
| Key findings | Preliminary findings suggest that children who participated in the Mindfulness-Based Culture Excursion Program showed reductions in perceived stress and increases in mindfulness and indicators of emotional well-being compared with the control group, with patterns appearing to remain observable immediately after the program and at three-month follow-up. The authors caution that the small sample size makes the findings exploratory and preliminary. |
Abstract
The multidimensional effects of devastating earthquakes can have profound and long-lasting consequences on the psychological well-being of children, particularly those living in disaster-affected areas. In this context, the present study explores the potential contributions of a Mindfulness-Based Culture Excursion Program (MCEP) to the stress levels, mindfulness, and well-being of children exposed to the earthquake (CETE). The study was designed as a small-scale, exploratory randomized controlled study with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up measurements. A total of 20 children aged 9-11 years, living in a container settlement following the earthquake, participated in the study and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The MCEP was developed within a holistic framework integrating mindfulness practices, art-based activities, cultural participation, positive psychology, and trauma-informed approaches. Preliminary findings suggest that children who participated in the program showed reductions in perceived stress levels alongside increases in mindfulness and indicators of emotional well-being compared with the control group. These patterns appeared to remain observable immediately after the program and during the three-month follow-up period. Given the small sample size, the findings should be interpreted as exploratory and preliminary. Nevertheless, the results indicate that mindfulness-based and culturally enriched psychosocial programs may represent a promising approach for supporting the well-being of children following disasters, warranting further investigation with larger samples.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Psychological Assessment April 11, 2011
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Reduce Sensitivity to Anxiety in a Spanish Primary Education Setting Mindfulness February 1, 2025
- Integrating Spirituality and Religious Beliefs in a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD with Latinx Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma April 21, 2023
and 4 more in the library