Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Temperament, Anxiety and Depression: the Mind the Child Study

Randomized Trial on the Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Temperament, Anxiety and Depression: a Multi-arm Psychometric Study

Background and study aims:

Mindfulness is a mental state that can be achieved through meditation. So far, studies have shown that practicing mindfulness on a consistent and regular basis can improve attentional functions and emotional well-being. Mindfulness has recently begun to be used in the field of child development. The aim of this study is to assess if a mindfulness program may help primary school students in reducing anxiety and depression while also improving their temperament.

Who can participate? Students attending the fourth or fifth year of primary school

What does the study involve? Participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group will undergo an 8-week mindfulness training program with weekly 60-minute group sessions, while the control group will follow routine daily school activities.

Questionnaires will be used to assess temperament, anxiety and depression before and after the intervention.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Benefits of participating in the study may include a lowering of anxiety and depression levels, as well as an improvement of temperament.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children aged 9 to 11 years
2. Children have reasonable comprehension of spoken language and can follow simple instructions
3. Children and their parents are willing to attend all intervention sessions
4. Children and parents have an adequate understanding of English

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Concurrent enrollment in other intervention trials
2. Child or parent regularly practice complementary health interventions such as meditation