From Retreat to Reality: A Qualitative Study of How Adolescents Apply Mindfulness One Month After a Weeklong Retreat

Adolescents who attended a six-day mindfulness retreat reported applying mindfulness skills in both personal and social contexts one month later. All 15 participants described intrapersonal benefits such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and broader perspective. Many also described interpersonal applications: 73% used mindfulness to navigate social anxiety and build connections, 67% engaged in more compassionate communication including active listening and emotional support, and 53% reported greater empathy and perspective-taking. The findings suggest that an immersive retreat can help adolescents transfer mindfulness skills to real-world developmental challenges, supporting both internal well-being and social relationships.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Mindfulness programs are increasingly delivered to adolescents to help them navigate emotional and social challenges, yet little is known about how they apply these skills after program completion. While most research has focused on short-term, school-based programs and intrapersonal outcomes, this qualitative study explored how adolescents integrated mindfulness into their lives one month after participating in an intensive, weeklong retreat. Method Fifteen adolescents ( M age = 16.74 years, SD = 1.58 years; 73% girls, 27% boys; 53.3% White, 6.7% African American, 6.7% East Asian, and 33.3% Multiracial) completed interviews one month after a six-day mindfulness retreat. Participants reflected on retreat takeaways and described how they applied mindfulness to personal and social challenges. Data were analyzed using a three-cycle coding process to identify patterns in intra- and inter-personal applications. Results Adolescents described intra-personal applications, such as self-awareness and regulation (100% of adolescents; e.g., regulating thoughts and emotions), practicing self-compassion and acceptance (73%; e.g., being less self-critical), and gaining a broader perspective (60%; e.g., focusing on what matters). They also reported inter-personal applications, including navigating social anxiety and building connections (73%; e.g., using mindfulness to reduce social apprehension), engaging in compassionate communication (67%; e.g., active listening and providing emotional support), and greater social awareness and attunement (53%; e.g., practicing empathy and perspective-taking). All adolescents described experiences in both domains. Conclusions This study offers insights into how adolescents integrate mindfulness into daily life after an immersive retreat and suggests such experiences foster transferable skills supporting developmental needs. Implications for contemplative science are discussed. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.