The effects of mindfulness training on suicide ideation among left-behind children in China: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The population of left-behind children is growing rapidly in China in recent years. Without parents' company, left-behind children may develop severe emotional problems, which can trigger extreme behaviors such as self-harm and suicide. Previous literature suggests that mindfulness-based intervention could effectively alleviate a variety of sufferings such as anxiety and suicide ideation. The current study sought to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention on suicide ideation among left-behind children in China.

METHODS: This study investigated the effects of an 8-week mindfulness training program on suicide ideation of left-behind children in China. Forty-nine left-behind children completed a pre-test and post-test on mindfulness level, social anxiety, self-esteem, and suicide ideation, with 21 in the mindfulness training group and 28 in the waitlist control group.

RESULTS: Adjusting for pre-test differences analyses of covariance found that, compared to waitlist control group, the mindfulness training group showed a significant improvement in mindfulness level, and decreases in social anxiety and suicide ideation after the 8-week mindfulness training.

CONCLUSION: The findings from this study support that the use of mindfulness-based intervention can effectively reduce the suicide ideation and social anxiety of left-behind children in China.