Benefits of Mindfulness Based Intervention for Students in Special Population

Mindfulness is a meta-cognitive process when practiced regularly will have direct positive effects on self-regulation, self-control, attention and anger arousal (Siegel, 2007). Mindfulness is about being fully aware of whatever is happening in the present moment without being judgmental (Kabat-Zinn, 2007). Mindfulness based intervention(MBI) that has been practiced with patients in medical and clinical set-up to lower blood pressure, anxiety and stress. Mindfulness based intervention(MBI) has proven to reduce anxiety and stress in adults (Stahl, Goldstein, 2010). Similarly, psychologist have conducted MBI with undergraduates in college and has exhibited reduced stress and anxiety levels. MBI is slowly gaining popularity with students in schools. This lit review will discuss mindfulness when practiced by students in special population will reduce disruptive behavior, decrease discipline problem and bring positive changes in behavior. A specific MBI Souls of the Feet (SoF, Singh et al, 2007) has proven to be successful with individuals with autism (Singh et al, 2013), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) (Singh et al, 2012). Mindfulness based intervention when used with individuals with mental illness has demonstrated to reduce physical and verbal aggression (Singh et al,2014). The literature review will also discuss different methodologies used in MBI studies. It will make a comparison between mixed method, qualitative and quantitative study while conducting MBI. The literature review will lay foundation to my PhD study.