Exploring the Benefits of an Arts-Based Mindfulness Group Intervention for Youth Experiencing Challenges in Schooling

Diana Coholic, Mark Eys, Kaitlinn Shaw and Martine Rienguette

SAGE Open, 2023, vol. 13, issue 3, 21582440231192111

Abstract: Research exploring the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) with youth is emerging and promising for the improvement of resiliencies. We developed an arts-based mindfulness intervention to make learning mindfulness accessible for children who had experienced trauma. Arts-based methods are engaging, enjoyable, and developmentally relevant. Previously, we found benefits of participating in this MBI for children aged 8 to 12 years. Herein we discuss research in which we explored the benefits of this MBI for adolescents who were experiencing challenges with schooling; 146 youth completed the program. Our research question asked whether the MBI was beneficial and/or effective for these youth and, if so, what were these benefits and how did these benefits assist youth to cope? Benefits were explored via reflexive thematic analysis (TA) of pre/post-intervention, and follow-up individual interviews with youth. Effectiveness was assessed by analyzing pre- and post-intervention scores on youth self-report inventories measuring mindfulness and resilience, as well as responses from caregiver assessments of behavior/coping. To assess if there were changes in responses across timeperiods, a series of repeated measures ANOVA were employed. Quantitative findings were mixed in that the youths’ self-report scores measuring resilience showed limited improvement while mindfulness showed no significant change. However, parents’ perceptions regarding their child’s behaviors indicated significant improvements in social competence and both internalizing/externalizing behaviors. Similarly, the thematic analysis suggested improvements in youths’ self-awareness, self-judgment, thinking, mood, ability to make choices, social skills, coping, and emotion regulation. The results are promising and warrant further investigation of arts-based approaches to facilitating mindfulness with youth.

Keywords: mindfulness; arts-based; youth; adolescents; resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:3:p:21582440231192111

DOI: 10.1177/21582440231192111

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