Mindfulness in the school curriculum? A nationwide cluster-randomized trial of the effectiveness of implementing a mindfulness-based intervention for 9-16-year-olds students in Danish elementary schools.
Social science & medicine (1982) August 1, 2025 Lise Juul, Morten Frydenberg, Emilie Hasager Bonde et al. 12 citations
A nationwide cluster-randomized trial in Danish elementary schools tested whether training teachers to deliver a ten-session mindfulness program improved student mental health. Among 1,728 students in grades 4–9, including 351 identified as at-risk, no statistically significant benefit was found on the primary outcome (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Total Difficulties Score) at eight months; the effect size for at-risk students was negligible (Cohen's d = 0.05). Secondary analyses suggested the intervention may have increased perceived hyperactivity and inattention, especially among boys and younger students, and worsened self-rated health among at-risk students. The authors call for further research into mechanisms and implementation fidelity.