Can mindfulness-based interventions help adolescents with cancer?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review evidence on the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for adolescents with cancer, exploring their suitability for addressing psychological challenges in this population.
Results Summary
The study found that MBIs show promise in benefiting adult cancer patients, adolescents with anxiety disorders and chronic pain, and healthy teenagers, suggesting likely benefits for teen cancer patients. The authors highlight mindfulness approaches as particularly suited to addressing anxiety about the future and fostering self-compassion.
Population
Adolescents with cancer, adult cancer patients, adolescents with anxiety disorders and chronic pain, and clinically healthy teenagers.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | medical and mental health settings | - | - | increasingly shown to be effective | #1 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | - | adolescents with cancer | - | may be particularly beneficial | #2 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | - | adult cancer patients | - | showing a variety of benefits | #3 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | - | adolescents with anxiety disorders and chronic pain | - | showing a variety of benefits | #4 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | - | clinically healthy teenagers | - | showing a variety of benefits | #5 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | - | teen cancer patients | - | point to likely benefits | #6 |
During the past 30 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of cancer in adolescents. While recent studies have illustrated remarkable resilience in youth living with cancer, they can also face daunting acute and chronic adjustment struggles, cognitive and school problems, family and peer relational difficulties, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other anxiety disorders. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), increasingly shown to be effective in a variety of medical and mental health settings, may be particularly beneficial for adolescents with cancer. This paper reviews evidence from clinical trials of MBIs showing a variety of benefits for adult cancer patients, adolescents with anxiety disorders and chronic pain, and clinically healthy teenagers, which collectively point to likely benefits of MBIs for teen cancer patients. The authors also explore ways that the particular psychological problems often faced by teen cancer patients, including anxiety about the future, may be especially well suited to mindfulness approaches such as learning to observe physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions, as well as cultivating compassion towards themselves and others. The paper concludes with an exploration of unanswered and potential research questions regarding the future use of MBIs with adolescents with cancer, and potentially with teenagers with other chronic diseases.