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Folger A, Nekkanti A, Williamson G, Guidinger C, Kelly NR. Rural sixth-grade teachers' and students' perceptions of a mindfulness-based mental health curriculum. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1277614. [PMID: 38106395 PMCID: PMC10722802 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1277614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have the potential to improve students' mood, behavior and cognitive functioning; yet, little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of adapting such programs for rural middle schools. Methods An exploratory qualitative evaluation was conducted to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an initial trial delivery of AttuneEd®, a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based mental health curriculum. In this single-group design study, 10 weekly lessons were taught in a middle school located in a rural town in the pacific northwest during 6th grade students' P.E. classes. Three P.E. teachers, 26 6th grade teachers, and one school counselor attended trainings before and mid-curriculum implementation, where they provided qualitative feedback. A total of 160 students completed acceptability surveys before and after curriculum delivery. Results Three themes were identified from qualitative data: cultural considerations, teacher self-efficacy, and barriers and facilitators to student acceptability. Student acceptability ratings were high. Students reported, on average, that the classes helped them better understand themselves and others. Conclusion Some identified needs for future MBIs include (1) the need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed delivery strategies; (2) teachers' desire for more support in content delivery; and (3) students' desire to have their own teachers deliver the curriculum. Findings elucidate the nuances associated with implementing an MBI in a rural middle school and have notable implications for development, scalability, and sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Folger
- Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Akhila Nekkanti
- Choice Filled Lives Network, Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Gina Williamson
- Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Claire Guidinger
- Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Nichole R. Kelly
- Counseling Psychology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
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Treves IN, Olson HA, Ozernov-Palchik O, Li CE, Wang KL, Arechiga XM, Goldberg SB, Gabrieli JDE. At-home use of app-based mindfulness for children: A randomized active-controlled trial. Mindfulness (N Y) 2023; 14:2728-2744. [PMID: 38654938 PMCID: PMC11034918 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-023-02231-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Objectives School-based mindfulness interventions in children have shown benefits to child well-being. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of a remote, app-based mindfulness intervention for promoting well-being in children. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two control groups to examine the effects of an 8-week mindfulness intervention in U.S. children ages 8-10. We compared pre-post effects between a mindfulness intervention using the Inner Explorer app, and two audiobook control interventions. The 279 children who participated in the interventions were assessed on self-report measures of anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived stress and trait mindfulness and we also collected parental reports. Results Over 80% of children completed the intervention in each condition. There was evidence for reduced self-perceived stress in children and reduced negative affect in children by parental reports using the mindfulness app, but no significant reduction for anxiety or depression symptoms. In general, between-group effect sizes were small (ds < 0.45). Regular use, defined as at least 30 days of mindfulness practice within the study period, was associated with reduced child negative affect by parental reports, as well as reduced parental stress and child self-perceived stress. Conclusions These findings suggest that home use of a mindfulness app in young children can have a positive impact on children's emotional well-being if the app is used regularly, specifically for at least 30 days in the 8-week study period. Strategies aimed at promoting regular use of the mindfulness app at home could lead to even better outcomes for children. Preregistration Preregistered on OSF at https://osf.io/23vax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac N Treves
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Hock E. Tan and K. Lisa Yang Center for Autism Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Halie A Olson
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ola Ozernov-Palchik
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cindy E Li
- Hock E. Tan and K. Lisa Yang Center for Autism Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Kimberly L Wang
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xochitl M Arechiga
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Simon B Goldberg
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - John D E Gabrieli
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Devassy SM, Scaria L, Metzger J, Thampi K, Jose J, Joseph B. Development of immersive learning framework (ILF) in achieving the goals of higher education: measuring the impact using a pre-post design. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17692. [PMID: 37848670 PMCID: PMC10582005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging technological tools like Artificial Intelligence-based Chatbots, digital educational alternatives and market-driven educational systems pose a challenge to the fundamental aim of the higher education system; comprehensive education for well-being. Therefore, this research aims to devise and evaluate strategies to impart new-age competencies to innovate socially and morally appropriate solutions in a modern competitive innovative society. The 8-month-long immersive learning framework (ILF), was designed based on the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) paradigm. The framework was evaluated with 133 newly joined postgraduate students doing their science or arts programmes from a higher education institution in Kerala, India. The outcome variables included well-being, depressive symptoms, personality patterns, and sub-domains of philosophy of human nature. The follow-up scores showed a significant improvement in well-being (Mean difference: 1.15, p = 0.005), trustworthiness (Mean difference: 14.74, p = 0.000), strength of will (Mean difference: 10.11, p = 0.000), altruism (Mean difference: 12.85, p = 0.000), and independence (Mean difference: 11.93, p = 0.000). Depression scores did not improve significantly. However, the intervention shielded them from the adjustment issues that often accompany any transition. The ILF framework can help students develop their personal and professional selves if it is implemented collaboratively in a reflective setting. It can also instil moral rectitude and a prosocial mindset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saju Madavanakadu Devassy
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683 104, India.
- Rajagiri International Centre for Consortium Research in Social Care, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India.
| | - Lorane Scaria
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683 104, India
- Rajagiri International Centre for Consortium Research in Social Care, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Jed Metzger
- Social Work Department, Nazareth College, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14618, USA
| | - Kiran Thampi
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683 104, India
- Office of International Relations, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, India
| | - Jitto Jose
- Department of Statistics, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, India
| | - Binoy Joseph
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Rajagiri P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683 104, India
- Rajagiri Business School, Rajagiri Valley, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Association of Emotion Regulation and Dispositional Mindfulness in an Adolescent Sample: The Mediational Role of Time Perspective. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:children10010024. [PMID: 36670575 PMCID: PMC9857177 DOI: 10.3390/children10010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This study relates emotional regulation strategies with dispositional mindfulness and the mediating role of time perspective. It is based on the fact that one of the mechanisms of mindfulness consists in providing protective emotional regulation strategies. At the same time, a direct relationship between dispositional mindfulness and time perspective has been observed. To do this, a representative sample of 320 Chilean adolescents from the city of Talcahuano, whose age ranged between 14 and 17 years old, and who were attending high school, was evaluated. The Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire were applied. Regression analysis results verified the close relationship between emotional regulation and dispositional mindfulness (R2 = 0.54), as well as with the factors of time perspective (R2 = 0.41), explaining, between both of them, 60% of the variance of difficulties in emotional regulation. The possible mediational role of time perspective between dispositional mindfulness and emotional regulation is established.
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