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Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a school-based mindfulness intervention for urban youth.

Journal of abnormal child psychology
October 1, 2010
Tamar Mendelson et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention for reducing stress responses and improving mental health and social adjustment in underserved urban youth.

Results Summary

The intervention was well-received by students, teachers, and administrators and showed positive effects on stress-related outcomes, including reductions in rumination, intrusive thoughts, and emotional arousal.

Population

97 fourth and fifth graders (60.8% female) from four urban public schools.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

12 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
decrease
involuntary stress responses
chronically stressed and disadvantaged youth
-
would reduce
#1
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
increase
mental health outcomes
chronically stressed and disadvantaged youth
-
would improve
#2
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
increase
social adjustment
chronically stressed and disadvantaged youth
-
would improve
#3
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
decrease
problematic responses to stress
students, teachers, and school administrators
-
had a positive impact on
#4
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
decrease
rumination
students, teachers, and school administrators
-
had a positive impact on
#5
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
decrease
intrusive thoughts
students, teachers, and school administrators
-
had a positive impact on
#6
a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention
decrease
emotional arousal
students, teachers, and school administrators
-
had a positive impact on
#7
Abstract

Youth in underserved, urban communities are at risk for a range of negative outcomes related to stress, including social-emotional difficulties, behavior problems, and poor academic performance. Mindfulness-based approaches may improve adjustment among chronically stressed and disadvantaged youth by enhancing self-regulatory capacities. This paper reports findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a school-based mindfulness and yoga intervention. Four urban public schools were randomized to an intervention or wait-list control condition (n=97 fourth and fifth graders, 60.8% female). It was hypothesized that the 12-week intervention would reduce involuntary stress responses and improve mental health outcomes and social adjustment. Stress responses, depressive symptoms, and peer relations were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Findings suggest the intervention was attractive to students, teachers, and school administrators and that it had a positive impact on problematic responses to stress including rumination, intrusive thoughts, and emotional arousal.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AffectArousalAttentionAwarenessBaltimoreBehavior TherapyChildChild Behavior DisordersDepressive DisorderFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInternal-External ControlInterpersonal RelationsLearning DisabilitiesMaleMinority GroupsPeer GroupPilot ProjectsPoverty AreasSchool Health ServicesSocial AdjustmentStress, PsychologicalUrban PopulationYoga
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations157
Citations/Year10.5
Relative Citation Ratio6.20
NIH Percentile95.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.44
Normalized Score0.66
Related Supplements
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