Mind-body therapies for resilience in adolescents: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective

The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of different mind-body therapies (MBTs) in enhancing resilience in adolescents.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials of different MBTs were identified using electronic databases and manual searches, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCOhost, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Google database. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess risk of bias in randomized controlled trials. A narrative synthesis of the included trials was conducted.

Results

A total of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 3640 adolescents met the inclusion criteria, with 7 trials evaluating the efficacy of Mindfulness, 2 Martial arts, and 2 Yoga. Among the 11 trials, 3 trials reported a significant effect of Mindfulness on resilience in adolescents (Cohen's d = 0.11 to 0.92), while 2 trials reported a significant effect of Martial arts (Cohen's d = 0.51 to 0.73). However, 2 trials evaluating Yoga did not find significant improvements in resilience.

Conclusions

Due to inconsistencies in the available evidence and heterogeneity across populations, sample sizes, and interventions, it is currently not possible to derive compelling recommendations to guide clinical practice on MBTs for enhancing resilience in adolescents. Whether MBTs can serve as alternative or adjuvant approaches to other established interventions to foster resilience in adolescents and mitigate the physical-health risks caused by stressful environments remains undetermined, necessitating further high-quality randomized controlled trials to evaluate their actual efficacy.