Salmoirago-Blotcher, ElenaDruker, SusanMeyer, FlorenceFrisard, ChristineCrawford, Sybil L.Pbert, Lori2022-08-232022-08-232019-03-012018-12-21<p>Explore (NY). 2019 Mar - Apr;15(2):160-164. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Aug 22. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2018.07.003">Link to article on publisher's site</a></p>1550-8307 (Linking)10.1016/j.explore.2018.07.00330309789https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/44523BACKGROUND: 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 14.5years 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.en-USAdolescentsHealth educationImpulsivityMindfulness trainingSchool-based programsAlternative and Complementary MedicineBehavioral MedicineCommunity Health and Preventive MedicineMovement and Mind-Body TherapiesPreventive MedicinePublic Health Education and PromotionJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/prc_pubs/11213525189prc_pubs/112