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A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescents and the Potential Role of Self-Compassion in Reducing Stress

2015; Elsevier BV; Volume: 11; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.explore.2015.04.005

1878-7541

Karen Bluth, Patricia N. E. Roberson, Susan Gaylord,

Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

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. 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. The study took place after school in a classroom at a local university. Overall 28 adolescents age 10–18 years from two different cohorts participated in this study. Learning to BREATHE, a mindfulness curriculum designed specifically for adolescents and taught in six 1.5 h sessions, was implemented. The outcome measures, life satisfaction and perceived stress, were included in an online survey before and after the mindfulness intervention. 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.