Mindfulness-based interventions for stress reduction in incarcerated youth

¶ … Mindfulness Training for self-regulation and stress with incarcerated youth: A pilot study" and is written by S Himelstein, Hastings, Shapiro & Heery. The article deals with feasibility of implementation of a ten-week mindfulness-based mediation. The intervention was meant to assist in the rehabilitation of incarcerated teenagers. It began with 32 participants filling out self-report type questionnaires in regards to self-regulation, mindfulness, as well as perceived stress. The researchers examined whether the simple act of self-reporting such things could increase the participants' rate of self-awareness and mindfulness.

Results from the study were positive. They showed that the participants perceived stress levels diminished much like the researchers hypothesized. There was also an increase in healthy self-regulation. However, self-reported mindfulness had no change signaling the intervention style may not affect mindfulness. Since the results were favorable, the researchers suggest the mindfulness-based interventions were not only feasible for incarcerated adolescents, but also provided positive outcomes. Like with any study or intervention plan, there were some limitations and the population size was not large enough to provide concrete evidence. However, because the teenagers were able to reduce their stress levels on such an intervention plan, this may help with rehabilitation.

On page 68, chapter 4 of Sports Leadership of the 21st Century the author discusses the leadership skill needed of sports leaders. Some of these include conceptualization, stewardship, foresight, and emotional intelligence. The exercises done in the study have a similarity to the qualities found in sports leaders. That is because when people become more aware of themselves and their thoughts, they can learn to identify in themselves the traits that can be found in leaders.

Leaders self-reflect. They reflect in general on how things are and how things will be. That is to say, leaders in order to have foresight must become aware of things on a much deeper level. Reading the article helped me to understand what is required when one wishes to lead, to start something. A personal journey of self-discovery and awareness not only helps the individual, but also builds them up for future success.

The next article is titled "Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Incarcerated Youth: A Mixed Method Pilot Study." Sam Himelstein writes it. This study examined the results of an eight-week mindfulness-based substance use intervention on things like perceived drug risk, self-reported impulsiveness, and healthy self-regulation. There were sixty participants all incarcerated youths. Of the sixty, only forty-eight participants finished the questionnaires pre- as well as post-intervention. In addition, sixteen of the sixty participants followed through with an interview over their experiences in the program right after its completion.

The results of the study demonstrated no change in terms of self-reported self-regulation. There was a decrease in impulsiveness. Researchers noted a major increase in perceived risk over drug use even from pretest to posttest. The focus group interviews enabled the researcher to discover three significant themes. The three themes are appreciation of the facilitator instruction style, general receptivity to the program, and education about drugs. Although some of the outcomes were positive like a decrease in impulsivity, the lack of participation by some of the participants left the study with some gaps in information. The article discusses in later sections directions and implications for possible future research. The interviews although useful, were not thorough.