AbstractsMedical & Health Science
Mindfulness-based intervention for primary school aged children
| Institution: | Swinburne University of Technology |
|---|---|
| Department: | Faculty of Health, Arts and Design |
| Degree: | DPsych |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Keywords: | Mindfulness; Children; Self-esteem; Anxiety |
| Record ID: | 1046232 |
| Full text PDF: | http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/398239 |
Abstract
A mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program for adults was adapted and piloted for nine disadvantaged children. A refined mindfulness intervention was then evaluated in a partially randomized controlled trial with 76 children aged between eight and 12 years. Children who underwent the mindfulness intervention showed superior improvements for anxiety, depression, inattention, and low self-esteem compared to a wellbeing program. Improvements to self-esteem were also superior compared to a widely used relaxation treatment. The study supports the utility of mindfulness as a treatment to improve the mental health of disadvantaged children.
