A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children.
Journal of school psychology June 1, 2014 Willoughby B Britton, Nathaniel E Lepp, Halsey F Niles et al. 253 citations
A pilot trial randomized 101 sixth-grade students to either a daily mindfulness meditation practice during an Asian history course or an active control activity during an African history course. Both groups showed significant decreases in clinical syndrome subscales and negative affect, with no difference between them in the extent of improvement. However, students who meditated were significantly less likely to develop suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm compared to controls. The findings suggest that mindfulness training may produce both unique benefits, such as reduced suicidal ideation, and non-specific benefits shared with other novel activities.