Anxiety, Psychological Stress
Conditions
Keywords
mindfulness, adolescents, working memory, stress, anxiety
Brief summary
The present study was a randomized controlled trial that explored the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of short-term mindfulness training among adolescents. The primary purpose was to investigate the effectiveness of two main Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction components-sitting meditation and hatha yoga-on working memory, stress, anxiety and mindfulness. The influence of daily home practice compliance on intervention outcomes was also examined.
Detailed description
The present study was a randomized controlled trial that explored the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of short-term mindfulness training among adolescents. The primary purpose was to investigate the effectiveness of two main Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction components-sitting meditation and hatha yoga-on working memory, stress, anxiety and mindfulness. The influence of daily home practice compliance on intervention outcomes was also examined. Participants (N = 198 adolescents) were recruited from a large public middle school in southern California. Participants were randomly assigned to sitting meditation, hatha yoga, or a waitlist control group. Participants were asked to complete a computerized working memory task, and self-report measures of perceived stress, anxiety, and mindfulness at pre- and post-intervention/waitlist, as well as one-month follow-up. A series of mixed-design analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine changes in working memory, stress, anxiety, and mindfulness between groups at pre- and post- intervention.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSitting Meditation
4 weeks Sitting Meditation
BEHAVIORALHatha yoga
4 weeks of Hatha yoga
Sponsors
Alliant International University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Students currently enrolled in school * Between the ages of 12 - 17 years old * English speaking-to understand and complete the measures * Able to attend the weekly hatha yoga or sitting meditation sessions * Not reporting any injuries or health condition(s) that might limit their physical activity
Exclusion criteria
* hearing impairments, injuries, or physical disabilities that would hinder them from fully participating in intervention
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Working Memory Capacity: Automated Operational Span Task (AOSPAN) | pre-intervention and post-intervention (waitlist), t the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period | Participants completed the AOSPAN prior to beginning their group condition (sitting meditation, Hatha yoga, or waitlist control) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stress: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) | pre-intervention and post-intervention (waitlist), t the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period | Participants completed the PSS-10 prior to beginning their group condition (sitting meditation, Hatha yoga, or waitlist control) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period. |
| Anxiety: Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) | pre-intervention and post-intervention, t the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period | Participants completed the SCARED prior to beginning their group condition (sitting meditation, Hatha yoga, or waitlist control) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period. |
| Mindfulness: Child Acceptance and Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) | pre-intervention and post-intervention (waitlist), t the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period | Participants completed the CAMM prior to beginning their group condition (sitting meditation, Hatha yoga, or waitlist control) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention (waitlist) period. |
Outcome results
None listed