Beneficial Effects of School-based Mindfulness Training On Impulsivity in Healthy Adolescents: Results From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Since impulsivity is associated with unhealthy behaviors in adolescents, interventions targeting impulsivity could positively affect such behaviors. Whether integrating mindfulness training (MT) into standard school-based health education could improve impulsivity is unknown.

Purpose: To obtain preliminary estimates of effect of MT integrated in standard high school health education on impulsivity.

Methods: Two high schools in Massachusetts were randomized to school-based health education plus MT (HE-MT) or to health education plus attention control (HE-AC). The outcome was change in impulsivity at end of treatment (EOT) and 6 months after EOT.

Results: Students (n = 53; 30 HE-MT, 23 HE-AC) were on average 14.5 years old and 40% belonged to ethnic minorities. Compared to the control condition, HE-MT had significant effects on impulsivity at EOT (beta = -9.7; SE = 3.8, p = 0.01), while smaller, non-significant differences were seen 6 months after EOT.

Conclusion: This rigorous pilot study suggests that MT could have a beneficial effect on impulsivity in adolescents. Improvements in impulsivity could have important implications should future larger studies show that such improvements result in healthier behaviors.

Keywords: Adolescents; Health education; Impulsivity; Mindfulness training; School-based programs.