Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Hilary A. Marusak, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University
Meditation and mindfulness techiques are becoming increasingly common in school settings. Alexander Egizarov/EyeEm
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Children actively meditating experience lower activity in parts of the brain involved in rumination, mind-wandering and depression, our teamfound in the first brain-imaging study of young people under 18 years old. Over-activity in this collection of brain regions, known as the default mode network, is thought to be involved in the generation of negative self-directed thoughts – such as “I am such a failure” – that are prominent in mental disorders like depression.
In our study, we compared a simple form of distraction – counting backward from 10 – with two relatively simple forms of meditation: focused attention to the breath and mindful acceptance. Children in an MRI scanner had to use these techniques while watching distress-inducing video clips, such as a child receiving an injection.
We found that meditation techniques were more effective than distraction at quelling activity in that brain network. This reinforces research from our lab and others showing that meditation techniques and martial arts-based meditation programs are effective for reducing pain and stress in children with cancer or other chronic illnesses – and in their siblings – as well as in schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study, led by medical student Aneesh Hehr, is important because meditation techniques such as focused attention on the breath or mindful acceptance are popular in school settings and are increasingly used to help children cope with stressful experiences. These might include exposures to trauma, medical treatments or even COVID-19-related stress.
Why it matters
Researchers know a lot about what is happening in the brain and body in adults while they meditate, but comparable data for children has been lacking. Understanding what is happening in children’s brains when they meditate is important because the developing brain is wired differently from the adult brain.
These findings are also important because caregivers and health care providers often use distraction methods like iPads or toys to help children cope with pain and distress, such as medical procedures. However, those techniques may largely rely on the prefrontal cortex, which is underdeveloped in youth.
This means that stress and emotion regulation techniques that rely on the prefrontal cortex may work well for adults but are likely to be less accessible to children. Meditation techniques may not be dependent upon the prefrontal cortex and may therefore be more accessible and effective for helping children manage and cope with stress.
What’s next
We still have a great deal to learn about how meditation affects brain development in children. This includes what types of meditation techniques are most effective, the ideal frequency and duration, and how it affects children differently.
Our study focused on a relatively small sample of 12 children with active cancer, as well as survivors who may have experienced significant distress over the diagnosis, treatment and uncertainty about the future. Future studies with larger sample sizes – including children with a wider diversity of diagnoses and exposures to early adversity or trauma – will help researchers like us to better understand how meditation affects the brain and body in children.
Our findings underscore the need to understand precisely how meditation techniques work. Exciting recent studies have begun to examine how participating in mindfulness and meditation-based programs can shape brain functioning in children.
Understanding how these techniques work is also essential for optimizing how they could be applied in health care settings, such as coping with needle-related procedures or for helping children manage the negative effects of stress and trauma.
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Hilary A. Marusak does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Sunday Citizen
Self-care can be a key strategy for getting through tough times, such as a global pandemic. Meditation is one practice that has been relied upon by people for centuries and across various cultures.
Sunday Citizen compiled a list of 10 different types of meditation, using information from health and wellness sites, research studies, and more. One thing to remember when beginning to practice meditation is that mastery is not necessary right away. If you don’t meditate, or only do so sporadically, any increase in frequency or duration could have a positive impact. Keep in mind, there is no one way to meditate.
Those who are a bit type A may have trouble slowing down—for them, a meditation practice like kundalini or tai chi that integrates movement may be the ticket. Other types demand quiet and sitting still. All forms of meditation have benefits for mental and physical health. For those who need guidance, there’s likely an app for that. Some are 100% free, while others may be subscription-based. Some apps don’t stop at meditation, but also offer tips and tools for other ways of self-care. You can even connect with a Japanese monk via Zoom for a meditation session.
Meditation may have started as early as 5000 B.C., but no matter how long, the practice has become more popular as people look for non-pharmaceutical ways to boost their mental health. Different variations on the practice have been developed throughout the world, including India, China, and Japan. Some are associated with spiritual practices including Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, while others are secular.
Over time, more people were exposed to the practice via the publishing of books including “Siddhartha,” “The Tibetan Book of the Dead,” and “The Dharma Bums.” Researchers started exploring the impact of meditation on the brain in the ’50s. Beginning in the late ’70s, researchers noted that mindfulness meditation was an effective practice to help manage chronic disease. By the time Deepak Chopra opened his Center for Wellbeing in 1996, meditation was becoming mainstream.
Continue reading to find the type of meditation that’s suited to your personality, energy levels, and goals.
Sunday Citizen
Self-care can be a key strategy for getting through tough times, such as a global pandemic. Meditation is one practice that has been relied upon by people for centuries and across various cultures.
Sunday Citizen compiled a list of 10 different types of meditation, using information from health and wellness sites, research studies, and more. One thing to remember when beginning to practice meditation is that mastery is not necessary right away. If you don’t meditate, or only do so sporadically, any increase in frequency or duration could have a positive impact. Keep in mind, there is no one way to meditate.
Those who are a bit type A may have trouble slowing down—for them, a meditation practice like kundalini or tai chi that integrates movement may be the ticket. Other types demand quiet and sitting still. All forms of meditation have benefits for mental and physical health. For those who need guidance, there’s likely an app for that. Some are 100% free, while others may be subscription-based. Some apps don’t stop at meditation, but also offer tips and tools for other ways of self-care. You can even connect with a Japanese monk via Zoom for a meditation session.
Meditation may have started as early as 5000 B.C., but no matter how long, the practice has become more popular as people look for non-pharmaceutical ways to boost their mental health. Different variations on the practice have been developed throughout the world, including India, China, and Japan. Some are associated with spiritual practices including Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, while others are secular.
Over time, more people were exposed to the practice via the publishing of books including “Siddhartha,” “The Tibetan Book of the Dead,” and “The Dharma Bums.” Researchers started exploring the impact of meditation on the brain in the ’50s. Beginning in the late ’70s, researchers noted that mindfulness meditation was an effective practice to help manage chronic disease. By the time Deepak Chopra opened his Center for Wellbeing in 1996, meditation was becoming mainstream.
Continue reading to find the type of meditation that’s suited to your personality, energy levels, and goals.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
fizkes // Shutterstock
Jon Kabat-Zinn created his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in 1979, making this type of meditation one of the newer options available. Because the tactics of the program were adopted outside of the meditation world by therapists and medical professionals, it is one of the more well-known options. By focusing on the present, instead of spiraling into thoughts about the past or future, people who utilize this technique can manage anxiety and concentration virtually anywhere, anytime.
fizkes // Shutterstock
Jon Kabat-Zinn created his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in 1979, making this type of meditation one of the newer options available. Because the tactics of the program were adopted outside of the meditation world by therapists and medical professionals, it is one of the more well-known options. By focusing on the present, instead of spiraling into thoughts about the past or future, people who utilize this technique can manage anxiety and concentration virtually anywhere, anytime.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Microgen // Shutterstock
Anyone who’s ever dealt with anger or resentment may benefit from this practice, which focuses on compassion for and acceptance of self, and then people and/or situations outside of ourselves, including (and sometimes especially) those that aggravate or hurt us. The idea is that until we love ourselves, we can’t extend love to others. This type of meditation can also help with anxiety and PTSD.
Microgen // Shutterstock
Anyone who’s ever dealt with anger or resentment may benefit from this practice, which focuses on compassion for and acceptance of self, and then people and/or situations outside of ourselves, including (and sometimes especially) those that aggravate or hurt us. The idea is that until we love ourselves, we can’t extend love to others. This type of meditation can also help with anxiety and PTSD.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
LOLA61 // Shutterstock
Even though this practice necessitates a guide, apps and the advent of video calls have made guided meditation available to almost anyone, anytime, via both live sessions and recordings. Anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia are just a few of the conditions that can be helped via this practice.
LOLA61 // Shutterstock
Even though this practice necessitates a guide, apps and the advent of video calls have made guided meditation available to almost anyone, anytime, via both live sessions and recordings. Anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia are just a few of the conditions that can be helped via this practice.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
insta_photos // Shutterstock
Perfect for those who struggle to sit still, this type of meditation uses movement—yoga, tai chi, gi gong, kundalini, and others—to calm the mind. The practice doesn’t require being solitary, and it is often experienced in a group setting. With the recent popularity of Zoom classes, people can join others from their own homes or a community space.
insta_photos // Shutterstock
Perfect for those who struggle to sit still, this type of meditation uses movement—yoga, tai chi, gi gong, kundalini, and others—to calm the mind. The practice doesn’t require being solitary, and it is often experienced in a group setting. With the recent popularity of Zoom classes, people can join others from their own homes or a community space.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Alla - Din // Shutterstock
Because there are poses and mantras to learn for this practice, you’ll want training at first, but once you know the basics, you can use kundalini to manage stress and boost body awareness, in addition to getting stronger and minimizing pain.
Alla - Din // Shutterstock
Because there are poses and mantras to learn for this practice, you’ll want training at first, but once you know the basics, you can use kundalini to manage stress and boost body awareness, in addition to getting stronger and minimizing pain.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Koldunov // Shutterstock
Those who struggle with sleep might want to try this practice, which involves scanning the body for areas of stress or pain. Intentionally tensing those parts, then releasing the stress, is often part of the experience.
Koldunov // Shutterstock
Those who struggle with sleep might want to try this practice, which involves scanning the body for areas of stress or pain. Intentionally tensing those parts, then releasing the stress, is often part of the experience.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Luna Vandoorne // Shutterstock
Because this practice asks that we focus on something external—breath, sounds, mala beads, or something else—rather than trying to empty our minds, this can be an effective option for those experiencing “monkey mind,” a Buddhist term that describes restlessness or confusion. Success begins with short sessions whenever you have time, making this type of meditation perfect for busy lives.
Luna Vandoorne // Shutterstock
Because this practice asks that we focus on something external—breath, sounds, mala beads, or something else—rather than trying to empty our minds, this can be an effective option for those experiencing “monkey mind,” a Buddhist term that describes restlessness or confusion. Success begins with short sessions whenever you have time, making this type of meditation perfect for busy lives.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
lkoimages // Shutterstock
Picturing an intended result—peaceful scenes to create calm or success in a specific situation—is one possible focus of visualization. Beyond visuals, this practice can include integrating all five senses.
lkoimages // Shutterstock
Picturing an intended result—peaceful scenes to create calm or success in a specific situation—is one possible focus of visualization. Beyond visuals, this practice can include integrating all five senses.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
Anatoliy Karlyuk // Shutterstock
Who hasn’t heard the word “om,” even if you don’t meditate? This practice, which has Hindu and Buddhist origins, uses words or phrases to focus attention. Because of the auditory component, this is likely a type of meditation you’ll do in privacy (though it is done in classes, too), making it a practice you can commit to daily at no cost.
Anatoliy Karlyuk // Shutterstock
Who hasn’t heard the word “om,” even if you don’t meditate? This practice, which has Hindu and Buddhist origins, uses words or phrases to focus attention. Because of the auditory component, this is likely a type of meditation you’ll do in privacy (though it is done in classes, too), making it a practice you can commit to daily at no cost.
Meditation holds the potential to help treat children suffering from traumas, difficult diagnoses or other stressors
SantiPhotoSS // Shutterstock
Because this type of meditation requires participants to remain silent for 10 days, using body scans to stay focused and ignore pain, it requires a much higher level of commitment than others. The benefits of the practice were explored in the documentary “The Dhamma Brothers.” The film shows how this practice helped incarcerated men at a high-security facility in Alabama face their trauma and past actions. Others have used the practice to help with recovery from substance abuse.
SantiPhotoSS // Shutterstock
Because this type of meditation requires participants to remain silent for 10 days, using body scans to stay focused and ignore pain, it requires a much higher level of commitment than others. The benefits of the practice were explored in the documentary “The Dhamma Brothers.” The film shows how this practice helped incarcerated men at a high-security facility in Alabama face their trauma and past actions. Others have used the practice to help with recovery from substance abuse.
Meditation and mindfulness techiques are becoming increasingly common in school settings. Alexander Egizarov/EyeEm