Examining the Effects of Mindful-Movement Interventions on Social, Emotional and Cognitive Outcomes in Children: A...

Early childhood is a critical period in which the development of social, emotional and cognitive skills occurs. Mindful-movement interventions, which combine physical activity and mindfulness practices, have promising benefits in adults; however, their effects in children are not well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of mindful-movement interventions on the social, emotional and cognitive development of children aged 0-10 years.

A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases; papers were screened using both machine learning-assisted and manual processes for eligibility. A total of 16 studies met inclusion criteria, with both randomised and nonrandomised controlled trials included in the review and meta-analysis. Extracted data included intervention characteristics and outcomes. A meta-analysis was conducted using robust variance estimation.

The pooled effect of mindful-movement interventions on social-emotional outcomes, encompassing 32 effect sizes from 12 studies, was marginally nonsignificant at 0.252 (95% CI = -0.026, 0.529, p = 0.072) and with considerable heterogeneity (I² of 79%), this suggested sizeable variability across studies in the level of social-emotional impacts. Cognitive outcomes across eight studies yielded a nonsignificant effect size, 0.330 (95% CI = -0.256, 0.970). For all outcomes, there were insufficient data for subgroup meta-analyses.

Mindful-movement interventions have demonstrated a suggestive positive effect on social-emotional outcomes in children; however, evidence for cognitive outcomes is less conclusive. High heterogeneity across the studies included in this review suggest a need for more rigorous research. The findings therefore tentatively support the use of mindful-movement practices in early childhood development.