Experimental Study Highlights Benefits of Mindfulness Skills in Mentoring Programs
Lucas-Thompson, R.G., Miller, R.L., Moran, M.J. et al. “Scaling Out” a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Through a Youth Mentoring Program: Preliminary Evidence for Feasibility, Acceptability, and Efficacy. Mindfulness 15, 872–888 (2024).
Summarized by Mia Lamont
Introduction
Research indicates that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may offer a promising approach to improving emotion regulation and mental health outcomes in adolescents. However, accessibility remains a persistent barrier, particularly for youth facing multiple adversities. One potential avenue for expanding access to MBIs is through integration into existing youth mentoring programs. Lucas-Thompson and colleagues (2024), explore the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of incorporating an MBI within a structured mentoring program serving adolescents at risk.
Methods
This randomized feasibility trial recruited 99 adolescents enrolled in Campus Connections (CC), a therapeutic youth mentoring program. Participants, aged 10 to 18, were referred by schools and community agencies due to involvement with the juvenile justice system, behavioral concerns, or economic adversity. Youth were randomly assigned to either the standard CC program (mentoring-only) or CC with an additional weekly, 30-minute mindfulness session (mentoring plus MBI).
Results
Findings indicated that adding an MBI did not negatively impact attendance, suggesting that integrating mindfulness into mentoring is feasible. Acceptability ratings were slightly higher in the mentoring plus MBI condition, indicating that participants found the mindfulness component engaging and beneficial.
In terms of psychological outcomes, adolescents in the mentoring plus MBI condition showed significantly greater improvements in emotional clarity and impulse control under distress. Additionally, this group exhibited greater reductions in attention problems, externalizing symptoms, and PTSD symptoms compared to the mentoring-only group. Conversely, the mentoring-only group demonstrated more favorable improvements in internalizing symptoms and perceived access to emotion regulation strategies.
Implications for Mentoring Programs
Integrating mindfulness into mentoring programs has the potential to enhance existing interventions by targeting emotion regulation and stress resilience in youth. Given the high attendance rates and acceptability observed, mentoring programs may serve as a viable platform for scaling out MBIs to underserved populations. Training mentors in mindfulness-based approaches could further enhance program effectiveness, fostering mentor-mentee relationships characterized by greater empathy, presence, and emotional attunement.
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