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A qualitative investigation of the experience of a mindfulness‐based intervention with incarcerated adolescents
Author(s) -
Himelstein Samuel,
Hastings Arthur,
Shapiro Shauna,
Heery Myrtle
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00647.x
Subject(s) - mindfulness , thematic analysis , intervention (counseling) , psychological intervention , psychology , clinical psychology , qualitative research , psychotherapist , psychiatry , social science , sociology
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.