The study examined changes over time#
Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and colleagues conducted the research as mindfulness-based interventions became more common in schools. Bioengineer.org reports that the programs have spread rapidly over the last decade as practices intended to support children's mental health.bioengineer.org 1 source for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
Mindfulness refers to intentionally attending to present sensations, feelings, thoughts and surroundings without judgment, according to Wikipedia. The study examined changes in mindfulness itself alongside mental health indicators, rather than establishing from the reported findings that mindfulness caused the symptoms.bioengineer.org+1 2 sources for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
Bioengineer.org reports that the researchers' findings were associations. The account does not give a sample size or describe the children's mindfulness activities, so it does not establish which activities, if any, were connected with the changes.bioengineer.org 1 source for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
Earlier school research has been mixed#
The researchers noted that previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions, according to Bioengineer.org. Some found that mindfulness-based programs offered no distinct advantage over other approaches to promoting mental health.bioengineer.org 1 source for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
Bioengineer.org reports that the authors identified several difficulties in comparing the research. There is no clear, standardized definition of a mindfulness-based intervention, and programs differ substantially in length and in the training given to facilitators.bioengineer.org 1 source for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
The researchers also said earlier work had given limited attention to factors that might affect results, Bioengineer.org reports. They identified dispositional mindfulness, emotional regulation and social competence as variables that could shape how interventions relate to inattention, anxiety and depression.bioengineer.org 1 source for this line, starting with Bioengineer.org
Other studies examine children's attention#
Discover Magazine reports that a study linked living near parks and wooded areas with children's performance on attention tests. First study author Carina Fowler said the quality of green space may matter.discovermagazine.com 1 source for this line, starting with Discover Magazine
In another study, researchers identified three brain biotypes among children with ADHD, anxiety or both, Stanford Medicine reports. The researchers said the findings could add detail to future research and clinical care beyond diagnoses based on symptom checklists.med.stanford.edu 1 source for this line, starting with Stanford Medicine
