The effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with mild to borderline intellectual disability.
Applied neuropsychology. Child May 12, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2025.2502358 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness training improved attention and executive function in children with borderline intellectual functioning and mild intellectual disability. Thirty children with borderline intellectual functioning, aged 7 to 9 years, received 24 sessions of mindfulness training, while a comparison group of 30 children of the same age range received no training. After training, the mindfulness group showed significantly higher scores than the control group on measures of inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and overall executive function.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Pre- and post test design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Children with mild to borderline intellectual functioning, ages 7 to 9 years |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Dose | 24 sessions |
| Keywords | Attention Executive function Mindfulness training |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness training led to significantly higher scores in inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and total executive function compared to no training. |
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with mild to borderline intellectual functioning. Two groups of children participated in the study. The first group consisted of 30 children with borderline intellectual functioning, ages ranging from 7 years to 9 years. A group of 30 children, ages ranging from 7 years to 9 years, formed a comparison group. The effect of mindfulness training on improving attention and executive function in children with borderline intellectual functioning and mild intellectual disability were assessed using pre- and post test design. The mindfulness group received 24 sessions of mindfulness training, while the control group received no training at all. The results showed that the post-test scores of inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility and the total score of children in mindfulness group are significantly higher than those in control group.