M3-JIA: Making Mindfulness Matter for Children With JIA

A Pilot Randomized-controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of a Live-Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention: The Making Mindfulness Matter© in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Study

The investigator will evaluate the efficacy of M3©, an intervention for patients with JIA and their caregivers. Children with Juvenile arthritis and their parents will attend an 8 week online program called Making Mindfulness Matter (M3). This is a facilitator-led program that integrates knowledge and skills related to mindfulness, social-emotional learning, neuroscience, and positive psychology to promote coping and resiliency for children and families in context of the challenges of pediatric chronic disease. The child program is designed for children 4-12 years of age, with each lesson including a variety of concrete ways to teach children skills based on their age/developmental level.

This pilot RCT is essential to refine the implementation of the intervention to families with a child with JIA and collect information pertaining to the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention in preparation for a subsequent multicentred trial across Canada. The investigator will propose to test if the M3© program improves the child's health related quality of life (HRQOL) and mental health for Children with JIA and caregivers. Additionally, to address the knowledge gap on the relationship between mental health and disease outcomes in JIA. M3 is a promising mindfulness-based intervention which may have mental health benefits for children with JIA and caregivers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 4 to 12 years diagnosed with JIA
• Children have reasonable comprehension of spoken language and can follow simple instructions
• Children with JIA and their caregivers are willing to attend intervention sessions and have access to technology and internet to attend the online sessions.
• Children with JIA and their caregivers have an adequate understanding of English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other major co-morbid disorders (e.g. Crohn's disease, diabetes, renal failure).
• Concurrent enrollment in other intervention trials or practicing any complementary health interventions such as yoga, meditation, or daily mindfulness practice.