Mindfulness Intervention with Homeless Youth
Research on mindfulness-based intervention has increased rapidly within the past 20 years, with recent studies demonstrating its importance in preventing assault by helping individuals be more aware of potential dangers. Yet, the use of this approach has not been tested with homeless youth despite extremely high rates of victimization among this population. The current study investigated a skill-building intervention to train homeless youth to practice mindfulness, with the ultimate goals of drawing their attention to risks on the streets and aiding them in problem solving to avoid such risks. This mixed-methods study investigated: quantitatively, 1) did the intervention result in increased mindfulness skills; and, qualitatively, 2) what challenges did youth experience in applying mindfulness material?, and 3) what intervention strategies facilitated youths’ learning of mindfulness?
Methods:
In a randomized clinical trial, purposive sampling was used to recruit 98 homeless youth (ages 18 to 21) from a youth shelter. Six cohorts, of 15-20 youth each, were recruited and randomly assigned to receive usual case management services or usual services plus a 3-day manualized mindfulness intervention. Pretest and posttest (1 week later) interviews assessed youths’ mindfulness skills using a standardized measure (Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills-Short) that included 4 subscales: observing, describing, acting with awareness, and accepting without judgment. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to assess group by time interaction effects on the four mindfulness subscales. In addition, audio recordings of all 6 intervention cohorts were transcribed and analyzed by a team of coders utilizing template analysis, including reading through segments of the data relative to prescribed areas of inquiry, developing a priori codes to guide analysis and identifying emerging themes.
Results:
A 2X2 repeated measures ANOVA found a significant group by time interaction effect, as intervention youth improved in observing significantly more than control youth from pre to posttest (F[1]=3.88, p=.05), with a partial eta-squared of .05 indicating a medium effect. Other subscales indicated a positive but non-significant effect (in describing subscale) or no effect (in acting with awareness and accepting without judgment subscales). Qualitative analysis revealed challenges inherent in the approach. Youths’ daily stressors made it “hard” to be mindful, requiring them to be “…extremely reactionary” and often drawing them into “fight or flight mode” for self protection. Despite these challenges, certain strategies facilitated learning of mindfulness, including creating opportunities to practice skills through role-plays and sensory exercises. Peer interactions were critical in both providing support, as youth struggled with mindfulness practice, as well as describing “real life” applications of mindfulness concepts to street life.
Discussion and Implications: O
Our findings suggest homeless youth can understand and, despite challenges, engage in mindfulness-based interventions, and that this intervention approach holds promise in building skills among this vulnerable population. However, acting with awareness and responding to situations with acceptance and nonjudgmental attitudes appear particularly difficult for youth. Future iterations of mindfulness intervention should consider using experiential activities, integrating realistic street situations and experiences into role plays, and capitalizing on peer application of material to help youth better develop awareness and acceptance.