Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions on anxiety for children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Year: 2019
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Aim This paper aims to investigate the extent to which mindfulness‐based interventions serve to reduce anxiety in children and adolescents. A heterogeneous sample was used, including clinical and non‐clinical population. Methods A literature search of controlled intervention studies published up to December 31, 2016, was carried out in PubMed, Lilacs, Cochrane, Embase, PsycInfo, Opengrey and Teseo databases. The effect size was calculated by Cohen's d. The Cochran Q statistic and the I2 index were used for the study of heterogeneity. An analysis was conducted using the random effects model. Results 829 articles were identified, of which 18 were finally selected. Of these, only three had statistically significant effect sizes. The overall combined result obtained was .013, but it did not result statistically significant (CI95% [−.102, .128].) The Q statistic was statistically significant (Q [18] = 28.497, P = . 39) and the I2 index was 40.34%, indicating a moderate heterogeneity. Conclusions This meta‐analysis did not obtain statistically significant results that could provide conclusions. In general, the studies analysed are small, of low power and have a marked heterogeneity, which implies that the findings are provisional and need to be supported by more robust studies. Although it cannot be ruled out that mindfulness‐based interventions are not effective in the infant‐juvenile population, it is also possible that this effect could not be detected due to the limited number of available studies. Larger investigations are needed, with sufficient statistical power and designs that control the variables potentially moderating, to establish clear conclusions.
Source: Early Intervention in Psychiatry
DOI: 10.1111/eip.12849
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2959535410