Living With Physical Health Conditions: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for improving depression, anxiety, and parental stress in families affected by childhood physical illnesses.
Results Summary
Most studies found MBIs feasible and acceptable, with mixed results for different health conditions. MBIs showed promise for improving anxiety and depression in children but limited support for reducing family stress.
Population
Children and adolescents (<18 years) with physical health conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, cancer, heart conditions, esophageal atresia, inflammatory bowel disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | anxiety | children with physical health conditions | - | show promise for improving | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | depression | children with physical health conditions | - | show promise for improving | #2 |
mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | stress in the family unit | families affected by childhood physical illnesses | - | limited support for reducing | #3 |
mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | feasibility | children and adolescents (<18 years) with physical health conditions | - | Most studies reported mindfulness was | #4 |
mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | acceptability | children and adolescents (<18 years) with physical health conditions | - | Most studies reported mindfulness was | #5 |
OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to identify and appraise studies investigating the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for improving depression, anxiety and parental stress in families affected by childhood physical illnesses, as well as feasibility and acceptability. METHODS: Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Medline, and PubMed were searched between February 2 and 17, 2021, and updated on August 5, 2022. Studies investigating MBIs with children and adolescents (<18 years) with physical health conditions were included, and results are presented with narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Eighteen studies met eligibility criteria. Studies included children and adolescents with chronic pain, headaches, cancer, heart conditions, esophageal atresia, inflammatory bowel disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Most studies reported mindfulness was feasible and acceptable, although findings for different health conditions were mixed. Some studies encountered difficulties with attrition, resulting in findings being underpowered. CONCLUSIONS: MBIs show promise for improving anxiety and depression in children with physical health conditions, but there is limited support for reducing stress in the family unit. A potential direction for future research might be the inclusion of parents. However, because of the heterogeneity of studies included in this review, findings must be cautiously interpreted.