The Effect of Mind Subtraction Meditation on Smartphone Addiction in School Children

BACKGROUND: Aim of current study was to examine the effects of school-based mind subtraction meditation program on smartphone addiction tendency and mental health of third grade students in a South Korean elementary school. MATERIALS & METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent comparison groups was used. An experimental group (n = 24), who participated in the school-based meditation program, and a control group (n = 22), who did not participate in the program, were measured pre-test, post-test, and also three months after the completion of this study on smartphone addiction tendency and mental health. RESULTS: The study result showed a significant decrease in smartphone addiction tendency and also significant improvements in mental health variables of depression, anxiety, aggression, and impulsivity for the experimental group. These improvements were shown to continue even after the study completion when measured post-intervention at three months. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the mind subtraction meditation program had positive effects on smartphone addiction tendency and mental health variables. It can be suggested from this study to recommend mind subtraction meditation as one of feasible strategies to prevent smartphone addiction and to improve mental health status in elementary school children. Further, this study meaningfully supports positive beneficial evidence of meditation program utilization in schools.