title: A systematic review of mindfulness intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities: long-term practice and long lasting effects.
abstract: Can individuals with developmental disabilities learn mindfulness? If so, with what result? A systematic literature review identified 12 studies that taught mindfulness practice to individuals with mild to severe developmental disabilities, demonstrating that mindfulness intervention could significantly reduce the behavioural and/or psychological problems of this population. The majority of these mindfulness intervention studies were longitudinal, featuring long intervention periods and long lasting intervention effects. This paper analyses the characteristics and objectives of mindfulness interventions, along with their effects, focusing on the adjustments made to intervention content and instruction strategies to meet the specific requirements of individuals with developmental disabilities. The potential for improving mindfulness interventions for people with developmental disabilities is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Mt Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 4122, Australia. yoonsuk.hwang@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Yoon-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kearney
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*