Boosting First-Line Mental Health Care for Adolescents Suffering from Chronic Conditions with Mindfulness: Results from a Randomized Staggered Within-Subjects Design

• Published in: Mindfulness Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 1821 - 1843
• Main Authors: Kock, Merle, Van Hoecke, Eline, Onghena, Patrick, Vandevelde, Stijn, Matthyssen, Mieke, Kuppens, Peter, Raes, Filip, Van der Gucht, Katleen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anxiety; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Chronic illnesses; Chronic pain; Cognitive Psychology; Diabetes; Females; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Metabolic disorders; Mindfulness; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Psychology; Public Health; Quality of life; Secondary education; Self compassion; Social Sciences; Sociodemographics; Stress; Teenagers; Well being; Within-subjects design; Chronic condition; Emotional distress; Mindfulness; Adolescent; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1868-8527; 1868-8535
• DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02593-w

Objectives Adolescents with chronic conditions are at an increased risk for psychopathology, which may impact their quality of life. Reviews suggest that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are promising to support these adolescents. This pilot study investigated the effects of an MBI on emotional distress and quality of life and examined potential mechanisms in adolescents with chronic conditions using a randomized staggered within-subjects design. Method Twenty-two adolescents (14–18 years) with a chronic condition were randomized to a baseline phase of 14–28 days, followed by an MBI, consisting of four bi-weekly online group sessions. Outcomes were assessed by repeated measurements at the baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases, and by standardized questionnaires and experience sampling measures before randomisation, at post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Additionally, interviews were performed. Results Our main findings showed that stress levels significantly increased ( b  = 0.35, 95% CI [0.12, 0.61]) immediately after the MBI began. However, upon completion of the MBI, participants experienced significant decreases in both depression ( b  =  − 0.44, 95% CI [− 0.72, − 0.21]) and stress ( b  =  − 0.36, 95% CI [− 0.63, − 0.11]). Quantitative measures revealed no significant effects of the MBI on quality of life. In qualitative interviews, all participants reported that the MBI positively impacted aspects of their quality of life, including a reduction of stress and an improvement in emotional well-being. Conclusions Based on both quantitative data from repeated measurements and qualitative data from interviews, this pilot study provides preliminary evidence that MBIs are acceptable and safe, and can alleviate emotional distress in adolescents with chronic conditions. Larger, controlled studies are essential to validate and generalize these preliminary findings. Preregistration This study was preregistered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT04359563).