UC San Diego

Stress levels in adolescents are high. Managing increased demands in the modern world can elevate stress levels. Youth spend much of their week attending school, where the visible effects of stress can be evident. In urban schools, youth are faced with violence, multigenerational poverty, and other factors that lead to added stress levels. Stress interferes with learning in that it blocks central areas of the brain responsible for cognition. Mindfulness-based practices are an intervention that may help youth mitigate negative impacts of chronic stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate student experiences with a mindfulness-based curriculum in the areas of stress, decision making, present-moment awareness, and emotional regulation. Although the study did not solely focus on adverse childhood experiences, an understanding of the interplay among factors such as stress, low socioeconomic status, and experiences of students of color informed data analysis. Empirical studies have shown mindfulness-based interventions are effective with adults, but fewer studies are available on the effectiveness of mindfulness in youth. Evidence supports the benefits of mindfulness in adults, which include stress reduction, emotional regulation, an increase in gray matter in the brain, and mental health benefits. This study demonstrated how youth believed mindfulness practices assisted them in managing their stress, de-escalating their anger, bringing more awareness to their life, and helping them make decisions that were more thoughtful.