Mindfulness in Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Bruno Daniel Carneiro, Daniel Humberto Pozza, José Tiago Costa-Pereira, Isaura Tavares
Pediatric Reports May 14, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric17030059 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review with meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13 |
| Population | Children and adolescents |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Adolescents Children Mental health Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction Psychiatric disorders Randomized controlled trials Mindfulness therapy: mindfulness Mindfulness-based interventions Mindfulness approaches Young people Well-being Researchers reviewed Findings |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | The overall efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, depression, and stress in children and adolescents remains uncertain due to high heterogeneity across studies, though some interventions like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy showed moderate positive effects. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are important tools to address mental health issues in children and adolescents. However, previous studies provided variable results that suggest that the effectiveness of those third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapies remains uncertain. The main objective is to assess the impact of MBIs on anxiety, depression, and stress in children and adolescents. The secondary objective is to examine the modalities of MBIs used, the duration of interventions, and potential confounding factors, such as age. A comprehensive search of multiple databases was conducted to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of MBIs on mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. The research was registered in PROSPERO, adhered to PRISMA guidelines, employed the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool, and calculated the effect sizes using mean differences. Thirteen RCTs were included; ten were identified as having some concerns, while three were classified as having a low risk of bias. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) demonstrated a small positive effect on depression and anxiety, while non-specific MBIs showed a moderate positive effect both on depression and anxiety. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was effective in reducing anxiety, depression (moderate positive effects on both), and stress symptoms. In one study, no significant improvements were seen on both anxiety and depression (for MBCT) and in another study on anxiety (for MBCT/MBSR). The meta-analysis did not identify a significant effect of mindfulness interventions on depression or anxiety. The high heterogeneity suggests varying outcomes, requiring further study of moderating factors. While some studies suggest benefits from MBIs, mainly MBCT's ability to improve mental health outcomes in children and adolescents, their overall efficacy remains uncertain due to the high heterogeneity. The findings underscore the importance of considering the intervention type, duration, and moderating factors, such as age, when implementing MBIs.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Culturally Responsive Mindfulness for Trauma Recovery in Foster Youth. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma September 2026
- Depression, anxiety, stress and mental well-being among Filipino sexual and gender minority university students: a cross-sectional study examining the mediating role of mindfulness. Journal of Research in Nursing April 23, 2026
Cites 21
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Theory and Practice The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
- Positive Psychological States in the Arc from Mindfulness to Self-Transcendence: Extensions of the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory and Applications to Addiction and Chronic Pain Treatment Current Opinion in Psychology January 14, 2019
- The Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA): New tools to assess nondual traits and states of consciousness occurring within and beyond the context of meditation. Psychological Assessment December 1, 2018
and 16 more in the library