Formal versus informal mindful self-compassion programs for adolescents.

Formal Versus Informal Mindful Self-Compassion Programming for Adolescents

This project will test whether two four-week mindful self-compassion programs—one focused on formal meditation practices and one on informal practices—help adolescents cope better than being on a waitlist.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 135 (estimated)
• Ages: 14 Years to 19 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Cambridge Health Alliance (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Malden, Massachusetts)
• Trial ID: NCT07513220 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial compares two four-week mindful self-compassion interventions (MSC-F emphasizing formal meditation and MSC-I emphasizing informal practices) to a waitlist control in adolescents aged 14–19. Participants are phone-screened, provide assent/consent, attend scheduled online videoconference groups, and complete online questionnaires before and after the intervention. Primary outcomes include coping, mental health measures (stress, anxiety, depression), and academic engagement, with additional measures of acceptability and satisfaction. The trial is run from the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion in Malden, MA and requires internet-connected devices for participation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-fluent adolescents aged 14–19 who experience stress or coping difficulties, have internet and device access, and can attend four weeks of scheduled online group sessions.

Not a fit: Adolescents currently or recently (past year) engaged in mindfulness-based treatments, those without internet/device access, or those unable to join scheduled online sessions are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, a shorter, more acceptable MSC program could give teens practical skills to reduce stress and self-criticism and support healthier coping and school engagement.

How similar studies have performed: Previous group-based mindful self-compassion programs have shown promising mental health benefits in youth, but direct comparisons of brief formal versus informal approaches are relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Be 14-19 years of age for the duration of the study;
* If 14-17 years of age: have a parent with sufficient literacy skills to understand the consent process and have the ability to provide written informed consent, and have sufficient English fluency and literacy skills themselves to understand the assent process, procedures, and questionnaires and have the ability to provide written assent;
* If 18-19 years of age: have sufficient English fluency and literacy skills themselves to understand the consent process, procedures, and questionnaires and have the ability to provide written informed consent;
* Have access to the internet and an electronic device with adequate data capacity to complete questionnaires online and attend online videoconference groups;
* Be available and willing to attend the scheduled online videoconference groups for 4 weeks and complete the online assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current or past-year treatment with mindfulness-based psychotherapy (e.g., MBCT, DBT, or ACT);
* Current or past-year participation in a mindfulness- or compassion-based program;
* A routine of, on average, 10 minutes of mindfulness practice per day over the past 30 days (greater than or equal to 300 minutes);
* Simultaneous participation in another experimental research study;
* Current or past-year diagnosis of: schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder, bipolar 1 disorder, or severe substance/alcohol use disorder;
* Current or past-month suicidal ideation;
* Hospitalization for reasons related to mental health within the past 6 months;
* Recent modifications to psychiatric medication(s) (within the last 30 days or within the last 90 days for antidepressants (e.g., SSRI, SNRI, etc.);
* Inability to complete consent/assent process or baseline assessment.

Where this trial is running

Malden, Massachusetts

• Center for Mindfulness and Compassion — Malden, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD — Cambridge Health Alliance
• Study coordinator: Julia Petrovic, PhD

Conditions Coping