Citation

Tharaldsen K. Adv. Sch. Ment. Health Promot. 2012; 5(2): 105-124.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa-Taylor and Francis)

DOI

10.1080/1754730X.2012.691814

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As adolescence is a vulnerable transition phase, especially regarding the development of psychological symptoms, interventions promoting mental health for this age group have been called for. The "Conscious Coping" program (CC) is an intervention based on coping skills from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including reappraisal and emotion regulation strategies, and mindfulness practices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the CC program for adolescents by using a mixed methods approach. The quantitative approach has a comparison group design measuring mindful coping, mental ill-health and life satisfaction. Within the qualitative approach semi-structured interviews are carried out. The study sample included one intervention group (N = 40) and one comparison group (N = 41) with high school students. Overall, quantitative results suggest that the intervention group experienced a minor deterioration in life satisfaction and psychological symptoms and no statistically significant change in use of mindful coping. However, some discrepancies with the qualitative data were found. Qualitative findings indicated that participants found mindful coping strategies such as awareness and distraction useful, but that their use of such strategies to a little extent led to experienced changes in coping. Findings provide important knowledge regarding the design of interventions integrating mindfulness to promote more adequate psychological coping amongst adolescents.