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Theoretical Foundations Supporting Mindfulness and Meditation for Adolescents

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Abstract

Incorporation of relevant developmental, contextual, and theoretical factors strengthens the development and delivery of mindfulness and meditation practices and programs. This is especially important given the proliferation of diverse approaches and models of mindfulness and meditation practices for adolescents. This chapter explores these topics and offers an overview of selected contexts and theoretical foundations of adolescent development. These approaches include theories of meditation and relevant theoretical frameworks for placing meditation in context based on the circumstances of the adolescents served. Relevant theories are addressed including developmental neuroscience, cognitive-behavioral theory, systems perspectives, and the transtheoretical model of change. The relevance of considering adolescent identity development and positive youth development in the formation of mindfulness and meditation programs for adolescents also is addressed.

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    Betsy L. Wisner

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Wisner, B.L. (2017). Theoretical Foundations Supporting Mindfulness and Meditation for Adolescents. In: Mindfulness and Meditation for Adolescents. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95207-6_2

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