Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Yoga on Anxiety in School Aged Children

Date

2022-08

Authors

Cantrell, Miles

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Abstract

The current study examines the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and yoga to reduce anxiety in school-aged children. Participants included 60 children ages 5 to 12 years (Mgirls = 9.00 years, SD =1.82; (Mboys= 8.77 years, SD =1.62) who participated in daily MBIs during their homeroom and physical education classes at school. To examine whether participation in MBIs and yoga led to decreased anxiety, participants’ selfreports of anxiety were measured before and after engaging in three sessions of yoga. The mean of post-test reports of anxiety (M = 2.07, SD .67) was significantly lower than the mean of pre- test anxiety reports (M = 2.26, SD.67), t (50) = 2.62, p <.01. Thus, participants reported “worrying less” after yoga sessions. Further, results by gender and ethnicity were explored, but no significant differences were found. Findings from the current study provide promising evidence that MBIs and yoga can be used to reduce anxiety in children in the school setting and can serve as the foundation for future research focused on interventions for children with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

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Keywords

yoga, mindfulness based interventions, anxiety, child life specialist, sickle cell disease

Citation

Cantrell, M. H. (2022). Effects of mindfulness-based interventions and yoga on anxiety in school aged children (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.

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