Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Their Parents: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this randomized control trial is to analyze the efficacy of a Mindfulness-based program (MYmind) in improving ADHD symptoms, associated problems, executive functions, and family functioning. Method: The sample was composed of 30 children (9–14 years old) with an ADHD diagnosis and their parents. Participants were randomized into two groups, the MYmind group ( n = 15) and a wait-list group ( n = 15). Participants were assessed in three time periods: pre-, post-intervention, and at 6-month follow-up. Results: After the program, parents reported a decrease in parenting stress and improvements in parenting styles. Six months after the intervention, parents reported significant improvements in children’s inattention symptoms, executive functions, learning problems, aggression, and peer relations. Overreactivity was the only variable that showed a decrease in both the post-test and follow-up periods. Conclusion: These results suggest that the MYmind program is a promising treatment for children with ADHD and their parents.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Peer Relationships of Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…The reviewed articles included eight RCTs, seven quasi-experimental design studies, and six single-group pre-post studies published from 2010 to 2022. Randomization occurred at the classroom or school level in all studies but one, which randomized at the individual level (Valero et al, 2021). Only two studies adopted active control groups, and most studies used wait-list control groups (k = 10).…”

“…Design All studies except two (Haydicky et al, 2015;Valero et al, 2021) reported the implementation context. Among them, 18 studies were conducted in school settings and one study was conducted in a pediatric hospital (Ahola Kohut et al, 2020).…”

“…For the seven studies that included follow-up assessments, we calculated a within-group effect size from pretest to follow-up assessment, with follow-up periods that ranged from 1 month (Menghetti, 2015) to 6 months postintervention (Berger et al, 2018;Valero et al, 2021). As shown in Supplemental Fig.…”

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Study authors spanned a number of countries or regions, including Iran [ 28 , 29 ], Spain [ 30 , 31 ], Italy [ 32 , 33 , 34 ], the United States [ 27 , 35 ], Australia [ 36 ], Romania [ 37 ], and Hong Kong [ 38 ]. All studies except one [ 36 ] were published in or after 2017.…”

“…As detailed in Table 1 , the age varied across the studies. Two studies recruited adolescents [ 28 , 29 ], whereas the others recruited children aged between 5 and 12 years [ 27 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Most studies recruited significantly higher percentages of boys with ADHD than girls [ 27 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], whereas two studies recruited all female adolescents with ADHD as participants [ 28 , 29 ].…”