Research on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children with Anxiety

A study published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy compared mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) with group therapy (GT) for kids with anxiety. Anxiety and emotion regulation were measured before and after 12 weeks of therapy.

The study found that MBCT-C reduced anxiety more than GT, and it showed a large improvement difference. However, both therapies worked the same in helping kids stop hiding their feelings, which allowed them to express their feelings more openly.

These results suggest MBCT-C is a strong option for helping children manage anxiety while also supporting healthy emotional expression. This is valuable because it offers caring adults a proven way to improve children’s mental health and quality of life.

Understanding the Research

Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and without judgment.

In this particular study, the goal was to see if mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) could reduce anxiety and improve emotion regulation better than a standard group therapy (GT) program that used cognitive and behavioral principles but did not include mindfulness, relaxation, or meditation.

The study lasted 12 weeks and included 52 children aged 8 to 10 years. All the kids had clinically normal cognitive functioning but showed signs of anxiety based on special tests.

Before and after the 12 weeks, the researchers checked the kids’ anxiety levels and how they managed their feelings. The mindfulness group did activities like breathing exercises, gentle movements, and paying attention to their senses. They also played games, listened to poems, and shared stories.

The other group had regular therapy using thinking and behavior exercises, but didn’t use mindfulness.

Here are the main results:

• According to the parents, MBCT-C helped lower their kids’ anxiety a lot more than group therapy did. The kids themselves also said their anxiety went down.
• Both MBCT-C and GT helped children reduce emotion suppression, meaning kids were better able to express their feelings after either therapy.
• Cognitive reappraisal (changing how one thinks about a situation) decreased in both groups, possibly due to the young age of participants and the short therapy duration.
• MBCT-C can be easily delivered in schools during regular hours, which makes it an affordable and practical option even in low- and middle-income countries.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Knowing how mindfulness can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional health is a great first step. The good news is that parents and caregivers can support their children by bringing simple mindfulness practices into everyday life. These activities don’t require special equipment and can be done anywhere.

Here are some easy ways to practice mindfulness with your child:

Take a few slow, deep breaths together

Deep breathing is helpful because it tells the body to relax and slows down your heart when you feel worried or upset. There are many different deep breathing exercises to try, so you and your child can find the ones that work best and feel most comfortable.

Introduce mindful movement

Teach them simple activities like stretching, gentle yoga poses, or walking slowly while paying attention to how their body moves. Encourage your child to notice how their feet feel on the ground or how their arms feel when they stretch. This helps connect the mind and body.

Create a calm corner

Find a quiet, cozy spot in your home where your child can go when they need to feel safe and calm. Add soft pillows, a favorite stuffed toy, or calming books.

This calm down corner gives your child a place to take a break and practice calming down with deep breaths or activities like drawing or reading. Having this space makes it easier for children to manage their emotions on their own.

End the day with gratitude

Each night before bed, encourage your child to name three positive things that happened that day. These could be small moments, like a delicious meal they had or a fun activity. This practice helps them feel more relaxed and ready for sleep.

The researchers are also saying that more research is needed to see how well MBCT-C works for different types of anxiety disorders in children.

If you found these mindfulness strategies helpful and want to support your child’s emotional growth even more, check out our full collection of worksheets.