The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behavior in childhood: A meta-analysis

Current research has reported the beneficial effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on general domains of cognition and behavior among children. The present study is the first meta-analysis with controlled studies investigating the pre-post change effects of MBIs on two widely experienced behaviors in childhood education, namely inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity. With a special developmental focus on the early years, a total of 21 studies with 3- to 12-year-old children were included in the meta-analysis. Results indicated that MBIs decreased children's overall inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behavior with a small but significant effect size (k = 21, g⁺ =.38, p <.001). However, this overall positive effect was only significant when teachers rated children's behavior and nonsignificant when parents and children themselves were the informants. Additionally, MBIs showed a moderate effect in reducing inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity for children at risk for such behavior. In conclusion, results indicate that MBIs, which are relatively easily applied in educational practice, have the potential to decrease inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behavior and might contribute to children's overall better functioning at school. Copyright © The Author(s) 2020.