A qualitative investigation of the experience of a mindfulness-based intervention with incarcerated adolescents
Samuel Himelstein1,2, Arthur Hastings1, Shauna Shapiro3
1Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 1069 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA.
Background:
This study investigated the experience of 23 incarcerated male adolescents who participated in an adapted 10-week mindfulness-based intervention.
Method:
Participants completed semi-structured interviews immediately following the final class of the treatment intervention. A six-step thematic content analysis was used to identify major themes from the transcribed semi-structured interviews.
Results:
Four major clusters of themes were identified: increase in subjective well-being, increase in self-regulation, increase in awareness, and accepting attitude toward the treatment intervention.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that adapted mindfulness-based interventions are feasible as treatments for incarcerated youth and have promising potential. Clinical implications are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Introspection
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
The Scientific Method
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Cognitive Dissonance


