Efficacy of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy on Children With Anxiety

This study examined the efficacy of mindfulness based cognitive therapy on children (MBCT-C) with anxiety. Two hundred and forty children were screened, of which 52 (25 boys and 27 girls) with anxiety were randomly allocated to either MBCT-C or group therapy (GT including cognitive behavioral principles). Both groups were rated on the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Child and Adolescent, pre- and 12 weeks post-interventions. MBCT-C was found to be more effective than GT in improving anxiety among children (between-group effect size Cohen's d 1.05) and as effective as GT in reducing emotion suppression for effective emotion regulation. This study provides support for MBCT-C as an effective group intervention for children with anxiety.