Background: Previous research suggests that mindfulness training (MT) appears effective at
improving mental health in young people. MT is proposed to work through improving
executive control in affectively-laden contexts. However, it is unclear whether MT improves
such control in young people. MT appears to mitigate mental health ...
Background: Previous research suggests that mindfulness training (MT) appears effective at
improving mental health in young people. MT is proposed to work through improving
executive control in affectively-laden contexts. However, it is unclear whether MT improves
such control in young people. MT appears to mitigate mental health difficulties during
periods of stress, but any mitigating effects against COVID-related difficulties remain
unexamined. Objective: To evaluate whether MT (intervention), versus Psycho-Education
(Psy-Ed; control), implemented in after-school classes: (i) improves affective executive
control; and/or (ii) mitigates negative mental health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted (Registration:
https://osf.io/d6y9q/; Funding: Wellcome [WT104908/Z/14/Z, WT107496/Z/15/Z]). Four
hundred and sixty students aged 11-16 were recruited and randomised 1:1 to either MT
(N=235) or Psy-Ed (N=225) and assessed pre- and post-intervention on experimental tasks
and self-report inventories of affective executive control. The RCT was then extended to
evaluate protective functions of MT on mental health assessed after the first UK COVID-19
lockdown. Findings: Results provided no evidence that the version of MT used here
improved affective executive control after training or mitigated negative consequences on
mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic relative to Psy-Ed. No adverse events were
reported. Conclusions: There is no evidence that MT improves affective control or
downstream mental health of young people during stressful periods. Clinical implications:
We need to identify interventions that can enhance affective control and thereby young
people’s mental health.