A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescents and the Potential Role of Self-Compassion in Reducing Stress.
Author: Bluth K1, Roberson PN2, Gaylord SA3.
Affiliation:
1Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, CB 7200, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Electronic address: bluth@med.unc.edu. 2Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. 3Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, CB 7200, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Conference/Journal: Explore (NY).
Date published: 2015 Apr 28
Other:
Pages: S1550-8307(15)00066-X , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2015.04.005 , Word Count: 253
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
In this pilot study, we sought to investigate the effects of a mindfulness intervention for adolescents on a community sample of teens. Specifically, we explored the effects of mindfulness training on emotional well-being outcomes. Also, we examined the relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion at baseline-predicted outcome measures.
DESIGN:
This design was a pre-/post-pilot intervention study. Paired t-tests were conducted to examine change in outcome measures before and after the mindfulness intervention. Multiple regression was also conducted to investigate the influence of baseline mindfulness and self-compassion on outcome measures.
SETTING:
The study took place after school in a classroom at a local university.
PARTICIPANTS:
Overall 28 adolescents age 10-18 years from two different cohorts participated in this study.
INTERVENTION:
Learning to BREATHE, a mindfulness curriculum designed specifically for adolescents and taught in six 1.5h sessions, was implemented.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
The outcome measures, life satisfaction and perceived stress, were included in an online survey before and after the mindfulness intervention.
RESULTS:
Results indicated that mindfulness, self-compassion, perceived stress, and life satisfaction improved from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Further, self-compassion (taught within the mindfulness intervention) was negatively related to perceived stress post-intervention while controlling for baseline stress. These findings suggest that mindfulness may be an effective intervention for improving indicators of emotional well-being among an adolescent population. Additionally, self-compassion may be a pathway through which youth can lower stress. Future research should examine self-compassion as a potential factor in promoting emotional well-being.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Mindfulness; Self-Compassion; adolescence; stress
PMID: 26005198
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