A pilot randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness program for Filipino children

ObjectivesThis study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a local adaptation of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program for Filipino school children, called Kamalayan, that was facilitated by trained public school teachers. It also presents preliminary evidence of program effects on the children’s depressive and anxiety symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation.<br>MethodsWe utilized a randomized controlled design with an active control condition. Filipino elementary and high school students aged 9 to 16 years old from low-resource schools were randomly assigned to the Kamalayan (<i>n</i> = 87) or the active control Handicrafts condition (<i>n</i> = 99). Changes in outcomes from baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up were assessed using multilevel modeling.<br>ResultsParticipation in the Kamalayan program did not affect depression, anxiety, or emotion regulation. Impulse control difficulties increased for the Handicrafts group across p