Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-4847-1667
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-15-2024
Keywords
Adolescents, children, Delphi, dose, mindfulness, structure
Abstract
Purpose: Research of mindfulness-based programming/interventions (MBP) for youth has proliferated in recent years; however, heterogeneity of MBP for youth impede determination of optimal programmatic structure across developmental periods. Design/Approach/Methods: Expert MBP scientists and instructors were iteratively surveyed using the Delphi method to assess optimal MBP session structure across developmental periods. Findings: Survey Round 1 defined the participants’ perspective of ideal structure across early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. In Survey Rounds 2 and 3, participants considered the preceding Round’s results (means and SDs) and indicated what they believed the ideal structure of a single MBP class. Final results following the Round 3 survey indicate that MBP session period should be progressively longer relative to the developmental time period (early childhood mean= 20.0 min; middle childhood mean= 34.5 min; adolescence mean= 50.0 min); that roughly half of a youth MBP session should be dedicated to mindfulness practice; and that progressively more time should be allocated to didactic instruction and discussion, relative to mindfulness practice, as youth become older. Originality/Value: These findings are the first to report expert feedback on the ideal structure of a youth MBP session, and results have significant implications for future youth MBP evaluation, implementation, and curriculum development.
Recommended Citation
Felver, J. C., Helminen, E. C., Schutt, M. K. A., Cary, E. L., Schussler, D. L., Baelen, R. N., Gould, L. F., & Roeser, R. W. (2025). Optimal Dosage and Session Structure of Mindfulness-Based Programming for Youth Across Developmental Periods: Delphi Approach Outcomes. ECNU Review of Education, 8(1), 254-271. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311241265129
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Comments
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors would like to express gratitude for all members of this study’s Delphi panel who contributed their wisdom and time to this collaborative group effort. Panel members who elected to be de-identified and acknowledged include: Vernon Anthony Barnes, Mark Bertin, Karen Bluth, Ravid Bogaire, Matthew Brensilver, Patricia C. Broderick, Brian Galla, Andres A. Gonzalez, Matthew Goodman, Susan Kaiser Greenland, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Siri Krishna Kaur Khalsa, Molly Stewart Lawlor, James K. Luiselli, Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Jacqueline Maloney, Helen Marsh, Tamar Mendelson, Moriya Rosenberg, Randye J. Semple, Nirbhay N. Singh, Ricardo Tarrasch, Katleen Van der Gucht, & Betsy L. Wisner.