Research within the adult population of mindfulness-based intervention indicates to a large extent its effectiveness in promoting well-being and psychological health. The study of mindfulness-based intervention with the adolescent population is becoming increasingly popular and research in this field is expanding rapidly. There is, however, little research so far investigating the use of mindfulness training for urban young people from disadvantaged and socially excluded communities. These individuals are the target of the pilot feasibility study of mindfulness training for young people (n=5). The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the five weeks Body in Mind Training Programme (BMT), and explore its efficacy in the targeted young people. It tested the hypothesis that young people from disadvantaged and socially excluded communities who have completed BMT will show: (a) improved self-esteem as measured by the Rosenberg Scale for self-esteem (b) reduced perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale and (c) be more mindful as measured by the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale for Adolescents (MAAS-A). Eighty percent of the sample (n=4) reported lower PSS scores at the end of the training, 60% of the sample (n=3) showed a decrease in self-esteem following the training, and 40% (n=2) had a lower mean MAAS score after the training. The findings of this study do not allow firm conclusions, due to the small sample size and high dropout rate.
A Pilot Feasibility Study of Mindfulness Training for Young People
Luckeenarain, R. (Author). 2015
Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Philosophy