Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Attention and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Keywords:
Adults, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Attention, Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention Deficit, MindfulnessAbstract
Introduction and Aim: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults is associated with significant impairments in attention and emotion regulation that adversely affect overall functioning. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness training on attention and cognitive emotion regulation in adults with ADHD.
Methodology: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, control group, and three-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of adults diagnosed with ADHD in Mashhad during 2024–2025. A total of 30 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received eight 60-minute sessions of mindfulness training, while the control group received no intervention. Instruments included the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale (BAARS-IV) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-18). Data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated measures ANOVA.
Findings: Results indicated significant effects of time and time × group interaction on attention deficit, positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies (P < 0.05). Specifically, mindfulness training significantly reduced attention deficits and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies while increasing adaptive strategies in the experimental group compared to the control group. These effects remained stable at the three-month follow-up, with moderate to large effect sizes.
Conclusion: Mindfulness training appears to be an effective complementary psychological intervention for improving attention and cognitive emotion regulation in adults with ADHD, and its integration into therapeutic and rehabilitation programs is recommended.
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