Abstract
During adolescence, there are important changes in both depressive symptoms and self-concept; thus, the present study aimed to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on depression and self-concept in adolescents and test whether age moderated the changes. A sample of 300 students aged between 13 and 21 years (M = 16.13, SD = 1.80), randomly assigned to either the MBI or a wait-list control group, completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Self-Concept Form-5 Questionnaire before and after implementation of the Learning to Breathe program. The intervention effects on the changes in some factors of depression and dimensions of self-concept were moderated by age. The intervention prevented increases in depression and somatic symptoms, decreased interpersonal difficulties, and increased social self-concept in older adolescents. However, in younger adolescents, there was an increase in depression, depressed affect, and somatic symptoms post-intervention. The effectiveness of mindfulness training was higher in the oldest adolescents, suggesting that MBIs should be even more precisely adapted for younger adolescents. Implications for the implementation of mindfulness programs in schools are discussed.
Highlights
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This study examined the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) on adolescents´ depressive symptoms and self-concept.
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Participants’ age moderated the effectiveness of mindfulness training.
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The MBI prevented increases in depression, depressed affect, and somatic symptoms, decreased interpersonal difficulties, and increased social self-concept in older adolescents.
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The findings suggest that MBIs should be even more precisely adapted for younger adolescents.
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Data Availability
All data are available at the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/jry8e/).
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Funding
This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spanish Government, Ref. PSI2015-68426-R) and from the Basque Country (Ref. IT982-16 and Ref. PI_2016_1_0023).
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J.G.-O.: collaborated with the design of the study, analyzed the data, wrote the paper, prepared the tables, and revised the references. E.C.: designed the study, collaborated with the writing of the study, analyzed the data, and wrote part of the results. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
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The procedures of this study have been approved by the institutional research committee of the University of (masked for review) and have been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
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Gómez-Odriozola, J., Calvete, E. Effects of a Mindfulness-based Intervention on Adolescents’ Depression and Self-concept: The Moderating Role of Age. J Child Fam Stud 30, 1501–1515 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01953-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01953-z