Impact of Mindfulness Training on Adolescent Well-Being and Behavior

There is a broad consensus that preventing or delaying initiation of adolescent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use can substantially improve both short- and long-term adolescent health. Despite the existence of effective prevention programs, adolescent ATOD use continues to be a substantial issue. Continued research on preventive interventions is needed. School-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to be feasible and effective at improving adolescent psychological well-being. Evidence from both quasi-experimental studies and randomized controlled trials suggests that incorporating MBIs into school-settings can lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, while improving capacity for emotional regulation. Greater mindfulness also been linked to reduced adolescent ATOD use via observational studies. There are strong theoretical reasons to believe that MBIs delivered in school settings can prevent or reduce ATOD use among youth. In particular, MBIs have been shown to improve psychological well-being among youth via multiple mechanisms also relevant for adolescent ATOD use. These mechanisms include enhanced attentional control, negative emotion regulation, promotion of positive emotion generation, and increased feelings of connectedness. Despite these connections, school-based MBIs are yet to demonstrate the ability to prevent or reduce adolescent ATOD use. The current study will examine psychological well-being and ATOD use among approximately 80 participants in a quasi-experimental, school-based MBI. In early 2022, approximately 40 high school seniors were provided with one semester of a weekly, classroom-based MBI embedded into their Social Studies curriculum; approximately 40 high school seniors participated in the standard curriculum. The intervention group was provided with an adaptation of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). MORE is an evidence-based therapeutic program that integrates mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and positive psychology to treat addiction and enhance well-being. MORE has been shown to produce therapeutic benefits in the treatment of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug addiction in adult populations, but is yet to be tested as a preventive intervention for youth. Follow up data collection is planned for spring 2023 to assess psychological well-being, ATOD use, and proposed therapeutic mechanisms pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 9-month follow up.