Enhancing cognitive and social–emotional development through a simple-to-administer mindfulness-based school program for elementary school children: A randomized controlled trial.

2014/12/29 by Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl, Kimberly A. Schonert‐Reichl, Eva Oberle +5 · 803 citations
Psychology · #Aggression #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Clinical psychology #Cognition #Developmental psychology #Empathy #Intervention (counseling) #Mindfulness #Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions #Prosocial behavior #Psychology #Psychotherapist #Resilience and Mental Health #Social psychology #Thriving

paper · open access · doi:10.1037/a0038454

published in Developmental Psychology 51(1), 52-66 (American Psychological Association)

openalex publication_date 2014/12/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The authors hypothesized that a social and emotional learning (SEL) program involving mindfulness and caring for others, designed for elementary school students, would enhance cognitive control, reduce stress, promote well-being and prosociality, and produce positive school outcomes. To test this hypothesis, 4 classes of combined 4th and 5th graders (N = 99) were randomly assigned to receive the SEL with mindfulness program versus a regular social responsibility program. Measures assessed executive functions (EFs), stress physiology via salivary cortisol, well-being (self-reports), prosociality and peer acceptance (peer reports), and math grades. Relative to children in the social responsibility program, children who received the SEL program with mindfulness (a) improved more in their cognitive control and stress physiology; (b) reported greater empathy, perspective-taking, emotional control, optimism, school self-concept, and mindfulness, (c) showed greater decreases in self-reported symptoms of depression and peer-rated aggression, (d) were rated by peers as more prosocial, and (e) increased in peer acceptance (or sociometric popularity). The results of this investigation suggest the promise of this SEL intervention and address a lacuna in the scientific literature-identifying strategies not only to ameliorate children's problems but also to cultivate their well-being and thriving. Directions for future research are discussed.

Citations

• A Developmental Perspective on Executive Function
• The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions

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