Mindfulness training improves attentional task performance in incarcerated youth: a group randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• High-stress environments like incarceration can impair attention, leading to cognitive and emotional difficulties.
• Attention is crucial for managing cognitive demands and emotional regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Training (CBT/MT) on attentional performance in incarcerated adolescents.
• To determine if CBT/MT can mitigate attention degradation caused by high-stress incarceration.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, group randomized controlled trial was conducted with incarcerated youth (ages 16-18).
• Participants were assigned to either a CBT/MT intervention or an active control group.
• Attentional task performance was assessed using the Attention Network Test at baseline and 4 months post-baseline.

Main Results:

• Attentional task performance degraded over time for all participants.
• The CBT/MT group showed significantly less performance degradation compared to the control group.
• Within the CBT/MT group, sustained attention was maintained only by those who practiced mindfulness exercises outside of sessions.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Training show promise in protecting against attentional impairments in high-stress populations.
• Sufficient practice of mindfulness exercises is key to maintaining attentional function during incarceration.
• CBT/MT may serve as a valuable intervention for improving cognitive function in incarcerated adolescents.