Integrating mindfulness training in school health education to promote healthy behaviors in adolescents: Feasibility and preliminary effects on exercise and dietary habits.

Author: Salmoirago-Blotcher E1, Druker S2, Frisard C2, Dunsiger SI1, Crawford S2, Meleo-Meyer F2, Bock B1, Pbert L2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States. <sup>2</sup>University of Massachusetts Medical School, United States.
Conference/Journal: Prev Med Rep.
Date published: 2018 Jan 28
Other: Volume ID: 9 , Pages: 92-95 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.01.009. eCollection 2018 Mar. , Word Count: 245


Whether mindfulness training (MT) could improve healthy behaviors is unknown. This study sought to determine feasibility and acceptability of integrating MT into school-based health education (primary outcomes) and to explore its possible effects on healthy behaviors (exploratory outcomes). Two high schools in Massachusetts (2014-2015) were randomized to health education plus MT (HE-MT) (one session/week for 8 weeks) or to health education plus attention control (HE-AC). Dietary habits (24-h dietary recalls) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA/7-day recalls) were assessed at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 6 months thereafter. Quantile regression and linear mixed models were used, respectively, to estimate effects on MVPA and dietary outcomes adjusting for confounders. We recruited 53 9th graders (30 HEM, 23 HEAC; average age 14.5, 60% white, 59% female). Retention was 100% (EOT) and 96% (6 months); attendance was 96% (both conditions), with moderate-to-high satisfaction ratings. Among students with higher MVPA at baseline, MVPA was higher in HE-MT vs. HE-AC at both EOT (median difference = 81 min/week, p = 0.005) and at 6 months (p = 0.004). Among males, median MVPA was higher (median difference = 99 min/week) in HE-MT vs. HEAC at both EOT (p = 0.056) and at 6 months (p = 0.04). No differences were noted in dietary habits. In sum, integrating school-based MT into health education was feasible and acceptable and had promising effects on MVPA among male and more active adolescents. These findings suggest that MT may improve healthy behaviors in adolescents and deserve to be reproduced in larger, rigorous studies.

KEYWORDS: Adolescents; Diet; Mindfulness; Physical activity; Prevention; School-based interventions

PMID: 29527459 PMCID: PMC5840835 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.01.009