Integrative Research on the Effects of Mindfulness Interventions

Abstract

The purpose of the research project was to assess whether teaching children mindfulness techniques would help them to pay attention. The first phase of this project involved conducting a literature review and constructing an annotated bibliography relevant to the topic. The next phase involved completing a methodological analysis based on nine articles selected from the literature review. The issues explored include consistency in the application of mindfulness techniques, qualifications of mindfulness instructors, definitions of mindfulness, measures used to assess significant results, gaps in the literature, and recommendations for the future for both researchers and practitioners. This study strongly emphasized MBSR and MBCT methods, or Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) models (Santorelli & Kabat-Zinn, 1995; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2007), even though there are other methods of teaching mindfulness such as and acceptance and commitment therapy ([ACT] Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2003). Current results show positive support for integrating mindfulness to help children to pay attention; however, the research is still new, and many questions still need to be answered before it can be empirically validated.