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Black, D. S., Milam, J., & Sussman, S. (2009).  Pediatrics. 124(3), e532-e541.

This article reviewed empirical studies on the effects of sitting- meditative practices in
school, clinic, and community settings for youth ages 6 to 18 years. The review was motivated
by a growing body of research that documents positive health and cognitive outcomes among
adults. The purpose of the present review was to determine the state of empirical research
related to sitting-meditation interventions for youth. Only those studies that prominently
featured sitting meditation were included. Other criteria for inclusion in the review were: 1) study
participants were younger than 18 years of age, 2) there was a quantitative health-related or
psychosocial outcome, 3) interventions were delivered in schools community, or clinic settings,
and 4) study results were published in a peer-reviewed, English-language journal. Studies that
primarily focused on movement-based practices such as yoga or tai chi were not included as the
effects of meditation could not be easily separated from those associated with physical exertion.
In addition, case studies with a single participant were excluded.
The review comprised 16 studies, published between 1982 to 2008, that met these criteria. A
variety of meditation styles were represented including mindfulness meditation,
transcendental meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy. When possible effect sizes were calculated for studies that compared a
treatment and control group. The results of studies were clustered and presented
according to physiological outcomes and psychosocial/behavioral outcomes. Studies that
examined physiological outcomes (n=5) provided meditation sessions for 10-15 minutes, twice
daily, for 2-4 months. Those that examined psychosocial/behavioral outcomes (n=11) provided
sessions from 5 minutes to 2.5 hours, 1-2 times per day, from 4 weeks to 4 months.
Physiological outcomes included blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output. Studies that
assessed physiology were primarily conducted among African American adolescents. Studies
showed some support for the efficacy of meditation on physiological outcomes, with median
effect sizes ranging from 0.16 to 0.29. Primary psychosocial/behavioral outcomes included
anxiety, depressive symptoms, behavior problems, and inattention. Studies showed the most
support for reductions in anxiety and behavior problems as a function of meditation training.
Median effect sizes across psychosocial/behavioral studies ranged from .27 to .70. Average
participant compliance (attendance to treatment) and retention (completing survey
measures) across all studies was moderately high at 77% and 84%, respectively. This review
found meditation to have beneficial effects across physiologic, psychosocial, and behavior
outcomes. However, more randomized control trials with larger and diverse samples in a
variety of treatment settings are needed to clarify the treatment efficacy of sittingmeditation
among youth.