Testing the Efficacy of 'Unlearning', a Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Programme for Cultivating Nonviolence in Teenagers : A Randomised Controlled Trial
Delgado-Suárez, Irene (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón)
López-del-Hoyo, Yolanda (RedIAPP (Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud))
Garcia-Campayo, Javier (RedIAPP (Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud))
Pérez-Aranda, Adrián (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Modrego-Alarcón, Marta (RedIAPP (Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud))
Beltrán-Ruiz, María (RedIAPP (Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud))
Gascón, Santiago (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón)
Montero-Marín, Jesús (University of Oxford. Department of Psychiatry)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Background: Most programmes developed to reduce aggressive attitudes among teenagers are based on cultivating nonviolence, a construct that has been related to compassion and, more indirectly, mindfulness. This study aims at testing the efficacy of 'Unlearning', a mindfulness and compassion-based programme, for reducing aggressive attitudes in adolescents. Method: A sample of 164 students from three high schools in Zaragoza (Spain) participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to (1) 'Unlearning', or (2) relaxation programme. Three assessment points were established: baseline, post-treatment and a 4-month follow-up. The outcome variables were the subscales of the 'Attitudes Toward Social Aggression Scale'. Mindfulness and compassion were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results: 'Unlearning' did not produce changes in the primary outcomes, but significant effects were observed post-treatment in self-compassion; and in the follow-up, in self-compassion and mindfulness. The control group did not experience any change post-treatment, but a significant effect in mindfulness was observed in the follow-up. The intergroup analyses indicated that 'Unlearning' improved self-compassion, both post-treatment (t = -2. 48, p = 0. 014) and after 4-months (t = -2. 03, p = 0. 044), although these results were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. Conclusion: 'Unlearning' did not produce significant reductions in aggressive attitudes compared to the control group. The low baseline levels may have hindered the efficacy of the interventions. 'Unlearning' showed potential to improve self-compassion, which is related to nonviolence, and this may have positive implications for the adolescents. Future interventions should include teachers and families to enhance the effectiveness of the programmes.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte FPU16/03565 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RD16/0007/0005 Instituto de Salud Carlos III CD20/00181 Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI19/00805
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Mindfulness ; Compassion ; Nonviolence ; Randomised controlled trial ; Teenagers
Published in:	Frontiers in psychology, Vol. 12 (december 2021) , ISSN 1664-1078

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.717736
PMID: 34975612

10 p, 1.1 MB

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