Piloting a more intensive 8-week mindfulness programme in early- and mid-adolescent school students.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a more intensive 8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) modeled on adult curricula would be acceptable and effective for youth, particularly in early adolescence.
Results Summary
The study found that the MBI was agreeable to students and developmentally appropriate according to school staff. Significant between-group differences in depression (Cohen's d = 0.61) and anxiety (d = 0.52) were observed at 4-month follow-up but not immediately post-intervention.
Population
Year 8 students (early adolescence).
Effective Dosage
8-week program with longer meditation and session duration, plus inquiry (specific dosage not detailed).
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | no change | content | students | - | rated as agreeable | #1 |
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | no change | content | school staff | - | deemed developmentally appropriate | #2 |
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | depression | subsample (N=90) | Cohen's d = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.19 to 1.03 | demonstrated significant between-group differences | #3 |
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | anxiety | subsample (N=90) | Cohen's d = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.94 | demonstrated significant between-group differences | #4 |
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | no change | depression | subsample (N=90) | - | not immediately post-intervention | #5 |
8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | no change | anxiety | subsample (N=90) | - | not immediately post-intervention | #6 |
MBI more closely modelled on adult curricula | no change | - | students | - | was acceptable | #7 |
AIM: It is unclear how adult mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) should be modified for youth, and at what ages programmes should be implemented for optimal impact. Recent non-replication with a 9-week programme in early adolescence suggested abbreviated programme content might be insufficient and/or that this age group are less receptive. METHOD: This controlled quasi-experimental design tested a more intensive 8-week MBI (longer meditation and session duration, plus inquiry) in Year 8 (M RESULTS: Within this format students rated the content as agreeable, and school staff deemed content developmentally appropriate, across both age bands. Efficacy was tested in a small subsample (N = 90) to provide an estimate of effect size. Linear mixed modelling demonstrated significant between-group differences in depression (Cohen's d = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.19 to 1.03) and anxiety (d = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.94) at 4-month follow-up, but not immediately post-intervention. CONCLUSION: An MBI more closely modelled on adult curricula was acceptable to students, although session duration was harder to timetable by schools. Promising effect sizes support further investigation in a larger sample.